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 fees final August for what the District Lawyer’s Workplace referred to 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 instances at a truck carrying three folks, together with 46-year-old Harry Goularte, who’s going through felony little one molestation fees, in keeping with the District Lawyer’s Workplace.
His defence lawyer, Renee Hessling, referred to as the end result “bittersweet” as they’d hoped to maintain Velasquez out of jail.
“All through all of it, Cain has proven braveness and energy of character,” Hessling stated in an announcement. “He has taken accountability for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down in the present day displays the complexities of the scenario 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 a couple of days later. Officers stated he was launched beneath home arrest and was on his solution 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 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 scenario was “not the way in which to do it”.
“We can not put the regulation in our personal fingers,” Velasquez stated. “I do know what I did, and I do know what I did was very harmful to different folks, you realize? Not simply to folks concerned, however harmless folks. I perceive what I did and I’m keen to do the whole lot I’ve to, to pay that again.”
Velasquez additionally stated it was vital 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 regulation into his personal fingers left an harmless man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, lecturers, and plenty of others in our group,” District Lawyer Jeff Rosen stated in an announcement. “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 towards Francis Ngannou on February 18, 2019.
