Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison for the attempted murder of a man who allegedly molested the fighter’s son.
Velasquez, 42, previously pleaded no contest to attempted murder, felony assault charges, and other related gun charges last August, according to the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office. The district attorney had pushed for a 30-year sentence.
“Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison today for a vigilante shooting spree that wounded an unintended target and sprayed bullets near a school crowded with children, teachers, and parents,” the office said in a statement.
The case stemmed from a February 2022 “vigilante shooting spree” where the two-time UFC champ shot at a truck in San Jose and then chased the vehicle, which had three people inside.
In the incident, he shot the stepfather of 46-year-old Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting Velasquez’s son. Goularte, who was not physically harmed in the shooting, is awaiting trial on felony child molestation charges and has denied the allegations.
Less than a week before the shooting, Goularte was accused of a 4-year-old at the daycare owned by his family. He was out on bail on house arrest and headed to retrieve an electronic monitoring bracelet when Velasquez attacked.
Prosecutors argued Velasquez was trying to kill all three people in the vehicle.
NBC Bay Area reported that Velasquez will get credit for time already served and spend about a year in prison.
“Throughout it all, Cain has shown courage and strength of character,” defense attorney Renee Hessling said in a statement. “He has taken responsibility for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down today reflects the complexities of the situation and acknowledges the man behind the headlines.”
