The retired heavyweight athlete has been sentenced to 5 years in jail after pleading no contest to tried homicide.
Former Final Combating Championship (UFC) champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to 5 years in jail for a taking pictures in 2022 when he chased after the person accused of molesting his son.
Velasquez was sentenced in Santa Clara County, California, on Monday after he pleaded no contest to tried homicide, felony assault and different associated gun prices final August for what the District Lawyer’s Workplace known as a “vigilante taking pictures spree”. He’ll obtain credit score for time served.
On February 28, 2022, the two-time UFC heavyweight champion fired a gun a number of occasions at a truck carrying three folks, together with 46-year-old Harry Goularte, who’s dealing with felony baby molestation prices, in accordance with the District Lawyer’s Workplace.
His defence lawyer, Renee Hessling, known as the outcome “bittersweet” as they’d hoped to maintain Velasquez out of jail.
“All through all of it, Cain has proven braveness and power of character,” Hessling mentioned in a press release. “He has taken duty for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down right now displays the complexities of the scenario and acknowledges the person behind the headlines.”
Lower than per week earlier than the taking pictures, Goularte was arrested in reference to the sexual assault of a four-year-old on the daycare owned by his household. He was launched with out bail a number of days later. Officers mentioned he was launched underneath home arrest and was on his method to retrieve an digital monitoring bracelet when Velasquez attacked.
Velasquez shot at Goularte’s truck in a automotive chase that continued for 17.7km (11 miles), the District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned. Goularte was unhurt however his stepfather, who was driving, was hit twice.
On his former teammate Kyle Kingsbury’s podcast, Velasquez mentioned his dealing with of the scenario was “not the best way to do it”.
“We can’t put the legislation in our personal arms,” Velasquez mentioned. “I do know what I did, and I do know what I did was very harmful to different folks, ? Not simply to folks concerned, however harmless folks. I perceive what I did and I’m keen to do all the pieces I’ve to, to pay that again.”
Velasquez additionally mentioned it was essential to have open and trustworthy conversations along with your youngsters about what sort of behaviour is suitable and hearken to what they are saying.
“One man’s determination to take the legislation into his personal arms left an harmless man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, academics, and lots of others in our neighborhood,” District Lawyer Jeff Rosen mentioned in a press release. “If you wish to do justice in Santa Clara County, please apply for a badge.”
Velasquez turned the UFC heavyweight champion on October 23, 2010, when he defeated then-champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 121. The retired athlete’s final skilled struggle was in opposition to Francis Ngannou on February 18, 2019.
