Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez appeared at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif. on Monday for a sentencing hearing. Velasquez entered a plea of no contest to charges, including attempted murder and was sentenced to five years.
The charges stem from a 2022 shooting where Velasquez entered a high-speed chase pursuing Harry Goularte. Velasquez fired a gun at a vehicle carrying Goularte and his family. Goularte ran a daycare that Velasquez’ then four-year old son attended. Goularte had been arrested days prior to the shooting for allegedly molesting the child. Velasquez inadvertently shot Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm.
Along with the attempted murder charge, Velasquez had been charged with multiple crimes including shooting at a motor vehicle or aircraft (one count), assault with a firearm (three counts), assault with a deadly weapon (three counts), willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle (one count) and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony (one count).
Goularte plead not guilty to one charge of lewd acts with a minor and a trial date has been set for June 2.
Prosecutors asked Judge Arthur Bocanegra for a sentence of 30 years to live while the defense requested no jail time. The judge ultimately settled on five years.
