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 costs final August for what the District Legal professional’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 individuals, together with 46-year-old Harry Goularte, who’s going through felony little one molestation costs, in accordance with the District Legal professional’s Workplace.
His defence lawyer, Renee Hessling, known as the consequence “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 stated in an announcement. “He has taken duty for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down right now displays the complexities of the state of affairs and acknowledges the person behind the headlines.”
Lower than every 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 just a few days later. Officers stated he was launched beneath home arrest and was on his strategy 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 Legal professional’s Workplace stated. Goularte was unhurt however his stepfather, who was driving, was hit twice.
On his former teammate Kyle Kingsbury’s podcast, Velasquez stated his dealing with of the state of affairs was “not the best way to do it”.
“We can’t put the legislation in our personal palms,” Velasquez stated. “I do know what I did, and I do know what I did was very harmful to different individuals, you understand? Not simply to individuals concerned, however harmless individuals. I perceive what I did and I’m keen to do every little thing I’ve to, to pay that again.”
Velasquez additionally stated it was vital to have open and trustworthy conversations together with your children about what sort of behaviour is suitable and take heed to what they are saying.
“One man’s choice to take the legislation into his personal palms left an harmless man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, lecturers, and lots of others in our group,” District Legal professional Jeff Rosen stated in an announcement. “If you wish to do justice in Santa Clara County, please apply for a badge.”
Velasquez grew to become 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.
