Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was sentenced on Monday to five years in prison for attempted murder following a 2022 shooting incident in California.
Velasquez, a two-time UFC titleholder, was facing 10 felony charges after engaging in a high-speed chase with Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting his four-year-old son. During the pursuit, Velasquez fired multiple shots from a .40-caliber handgun into a vehicle carrying Goularte, striking Goularte’s stepfather in the arm.
The 41-year-old fighter pleaded no contest to all charges. Prosecutors initially sought a 30-year-to-life sentence, but Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra ultimately imposed a five-year term, factoring in time already served. Velasquez had spent nearly a year in custody and an additional two years under house arrest before the sentencing.
His attorney, Renee Hessling, told NBC Bay Area that she expects Velasquez will serve approximately one more year behind bars.
“I believe that, in some ways, justice was served today, despite the disappointment that he is back in custody,” Hessling said.
Meanwhile, Goularte—whose mother operated the daycare where the alleged abuse took place—is set to stand trial in June after pleading not guilty to a charge of committing lewd acts with a minor.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, Velasquez’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against Goularte’s family and their businesses.
