A major turn in the case against Cain Velasquez came Friday when the former UFC heavyweight champion cut a deal.
Velasquez’s trial in Santa Clara (Calif.) County court was set to begin next month, and the charges against him included attempted murder. But the East Bay Times reported Velasquez cut a deal Friday to plead no contest to the charges against him.
In exchange, Velasquez gets the potential for a lesser sentence from Judge Arthur Bocanegra. He also had the premeditation charges dropped from his one attempted murder count and nine separate gun charges – which could play an important role in his sentencing.
Velasquez will avoid going to a jury trial that would have included the possibility of a guilty verdict and life in prison. Absent a trial, Velasquez will be convicted of the charges against him, but the premeditation charges gone mean a mandatory life sentence is off the table. Judge Judge Bocanegra will have a wide range of options when he sentences Velasquez.
The next hearing for Velasquez’s sentencing, the Times reported, is set for Oct. 18.
Velasquez was arrested nearly 2.5 years ago after he allegedly pursued and shot at a man, Harry Goularte, accused of molesting Velasquez’s then 4-year-old son at a daycare. Velasquez allegedly chased a car carrying Goularte and family members during a high-speed chase with a bullet striking Goularte’s stepfather causing injury.
Velasquez spent nearly nine months incarcerated before he was granted $1 million bail with stipulations, including GPS surveillance and TBI treatment. He has been permitted to travel for professional wrestling events, to corner AKA teammates in Bellator and UFC fights, and make appearances.
Velasquez was facing charges of attempted murder (one count), shooting at a motor vehicle or aircraft (one count), assault with a firearm (three counts), assault with a deadly weapon (three counts), willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle (one count) and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony (one count). Velasquez pleaded not guilty to the charges.
If found guilty of attempted murder in a trial, he faced a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, according to the California penal code. Additional time could have been added for the other counts. With his settlement, the judge could sentence Velasquez to time served and probation all the way up to life in prison.
Goularte faces one count of lewd acts with a child and currently awaits a trial setting hearing of his own for criminal charges. A civil case against him is set to go forward in May 2025.
