Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison for a shooting incident that took place in 2022. This event involved him pursuing and firing shots at a man he believed was involved in the sexual abuse of his four-year-old son.
On March 24, Velasquez, 42, received his sentencing after pleading no contest to charges including attempted murder and felony assault. The Santa Clara County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the details in a statement.
According to authorities, Velasquez’s actions began on February 28, 2022, when he engaged in a high-speed chase in San Jose, California. During this pursuit, he fired his registered handgun at a truck that contained three individuals, including Harry Goularte, the man accused of molesting his son.
Reports indicate that Goularte, 46, had been arrested shortly before the incident on charges of child molestation and was under home detention at the time of the attack. Velasquez’s shots did not hit Goularte but instead struck a 63-year-old relative who was also in the vehicle. Fortunately, that individual survived.
Witnesses stated that Velasquez fired multiple times during the chase, which included a scene near a school where children and staff were present. This reckless behavior raised serious concerns about safety in the community. Authorities also discovered that searches made on Velasquez’s phone related to cases of retaliation against individuals involved in sexual assault.
Velasquez was apprehended following the shooting and received credit for time previously served. He is expected to spend about one year in prison after his sentence.
Meanwhile, Goularte is still facing serious felony charges and remains under supervision due to the nature of his alleged crimes. District Attorney Jeff Rosen highlighted the dangers of Velasquez’s actions, calling for individuals to seek legal avenues for justice rather than taking matters into their own hands.
