Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez Receives Prison Sentence After High-Profile Case
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez’s attempted murder and gun assault case has finally come to an end, with the court sentencing him to five years in prison. The case, which had been ongoing since 2022, has left the MMA community disappointed as their beloved fighter was found guilty. In addition to his prison term, Velasquez has also been sentenced to four years of supervised probation.
On February 28, 2022, Cain Velasquez allegedly shot at a man in Santa Clara County, California, but instead hit an unintended victim. The intended target, Harry Goularte Jr., had been arrested earlier for allegedly sexually abusing Velasquez’s son at a daycare owned by Goularte’s family but was later released on a personal recognizance bond. In response, Velasquez allegedly chased a vehicle carrying Goularte Jr., his stepfather, and his mother, ramming it with his own before firing a gun. He missed Goularte but struck his stepfather, causing non-life-threatening injuries.
Velasquez was later arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County jail on an attempted first-degree murder charge. On March 2, he was formally charged with attempted murder, shooting at a motor vehicle, multiple counts of assault with a firearm and a deadly weapon, willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony.
Nearly three years after his arrest, Cain Velasquez pleaded no contest to charges, including attempted murder, and was sentenced to five years in prison for the shooting. Having been out on house arrest since November 2022, he received credit for 1,283 days of time served. The sentencing took place in Santa Clara County court in San Jose, California, according to NBC Bay Area.
Cain Velasquez Breaks Silence on Shooting Before Sentencing
Before the hearing, Cain Velasquez opened up about the incident, expressing regret over his actions. He detailed what happened that day and was visibly upset about his decisions. Velasquez admitted that he now understands his actions were wrong and pleaded no contest to the charges.
“From what I can say as far as myself, the way that I handled things was not the way to do it,” Velasquez said. “We cannot put the law in our own hands. … I’ve already pled guilty [no contest], so I’m going to get a sentencing (Monday). I know what I did, and I know what I did was very dangerous to other people, you know? Not just people involved, but to innocent people. I understand what I did and I’m willing to do everything I have to (in order) to pay that back. Whatever the court feels correct for what I have to do, I’m going to do it with my head up and still be me and not play the blame game. It was me that did that and reacted in that way.”
Despite his legal troubles, Cain Velasquez remains a respected figure in the MMA community. His case has sparked debates about vigilante justice, with many fighters and fans expressing their support. While he now faces prison time, his legacy as a former UFC heavyweight champion and his impact on the sport will not be forgotten.
Also Read: Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann’s Retirement: Her Impact on British MMA And The Legacy She Left
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