A special in-camera hearing to discuss matters pertaining to the ongoing criminal case of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was continued by a Santa Clara (Calif.) Superior Court judge Monday.
Discussions now are tabled until Sept. 9 and still are scheduled to be in-camera – or in other words, behind closed doors.
Judge Jessica M. Delgado did not provide any details as to the extent of the discussions Monday when she appeared virtually due to a COVID-19 exposure.
The matter of the hearings pertains to accused molester and alleged shooting target Harry Goularte’s relevance to Velasquez’s case. Velasquez attorney Mark Geragos has argued the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office should hand over all documents pertaining to Goularte’s alleged molestation of Velasquez’s 4-year-old son. Meanwhile, DA representative Aaron French has indicated he plans to only share documents the office deems relevant.
Geragos repeatedly has protested the DA serving as prosecutor for both the Velasquez and Goularte cases and frequently uses the expression “serving two masters.”
Additionally, Geragos and his assistants have expressed concern at the notion the DA’s office does not plan to call Goularte as a witness in the Velasquez case.
“Harry Goularte was fundamental and critical to what he observed and how that investigation against Mr. Cain Velasquez happened,” Velasquez attorney Renee Hessling said at an Aug. 5 hearing. “To say that he should just be completely excised from this equation and pretend that he does not exist and just completely dismiss his presence or what type of role he has in that, I think is a fiction. I don’t think that that is practical. I think it’s fundamentally unfair to Mr. Velasquez.”
When she initially called for the in-camera hearing, Delgado explained the rare circumstances of the two cases, as well as the sensitivity of a minor being involved in the Goularte case made discussing matters out of the public view a viable option.
Velasquez, 40, was arrested Feb. 28 after he allegedly pursued and shot at Goularte and struck Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender in the shoulder. Velasquez later was charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder.
Between the criminal case for each and a pending civil case by Velasquez against Goularte and his family, the next month will be busy with court proceedings for both the alleged shooting and alleged molestation.
In addition to his Sept. 9 hearing, Velasquez is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing Sept. 26. Velasquez has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Goularte is due in court Thursday for a court-ordered hearing ahead of a Sept. 20 pre-trial hearing of his own. Goularte pleaded not guilty to one felony charge of “lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14.”
A Sept. 6 hearing is currently set for the civil lawsuit. Bender so far is the only person of three sued by Velasquez who has responded to summons. He denied all allegations.
