Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship great Cain
Velasquez has entered a plea that should keep him out of prison
for life.
The Santa Clara District Attorney’s office released a
statement on Friday announcing that Velasquez has pleased no
contest for his charges of attempted murder, felony assault and
additional gun charges. Due to this, he will not need to go to
trial that was scheduled for Sept. 9, in front of a jury. His
sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 18, according to the
East Bay Times.
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In 2022, Velasquez fired a handgun at a truck holding multiple
people including a man Velasquez accused of molesting his son.
Velasquez, who himself was driving while chasing after the other
vehicle, fired several shots from his .40 pistol that struck
another individual. During the excursion, the former UFC fighter
shot at the man accused of molestation near a school, and was
apprehended by police in Morgan Hill, California, shortly
thereafter.
“This defendant decided to become judge, jury and executioner,”
District Attorney Jeff Rosen wrote in the statement. “His actions
endangered innocent bystanders, including young children and their
parents who could have been injured or killed as he shot at his
intended victim. We have excellent law enforcement in this county.
Let them do their jobs.”
By pleading no contest, Velasquez will be convicted of his charges
but not issued a mandatory life sentence. The terms of the plea
have not been publicly disclosed, and while Velasquez will be sent
to prison, the sentence could vary significantly depending on
factors weighed in Judge Arthur Bocanegra’s decision.
Paul Bender, the man inadvertently shot by Velasquez during the
chase, briefly spoke to the
East Bay Times about this plea deal. Bender was not thrilled by
the fact that Velasquez is out on bail, although he is under house
arrest with monitoring equipment.
“In a case like today when he changes his plea to guilty to 10
violent felonies involving a gun, and our system allows him to go
free? How in God’s name is that possible? I’m looking for someone
to explain that to me,” Bender remarked.
Friend and former UFC fighter Josh Thomson
also weighed in on Velasquez’ ordeal, claiming that the previous
nine months of imprisonment for Velasquez plus his current
stipulations should be a sufficient punishment. Thomson took note
that the man Velasquez shot at, Harry Goularte, is currently facing
charges for child molestation.
“This should be done and over. When we start talking about a father
taking actions into his own hands to protect his children, because
California’s failed system hasn’t done anything for him, that’s
exactly what happened. I think his time has been served,” Thomson
concluded.