UFC Champ Cain Velasquez Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison For Shooting Man Accused Of Molesting His 4-Year-Old Son

In a Monday hearing, former UFC champion Cain Velasquez, 42, was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder of a man. Velasquez pleaded guilty to attempted murder, felony assault and other related gun charges.

The man in question, Harry Goularte, 46, was accused of molesting Velasquez’s four-year-old son in 2022. This led to a high-speed chase in Northern California, in which Velasquez fired a handgun at Goularte’s truck. Velasquez allegedly began to shoot at Goularte at an intersection before following his truck for 11 miles. There were three people in the truck during the chase, including Goularte’s stepfather, who was shot in the event. He survived the injuries.

>More: Ex-UFC Champion Cain Valesquez Arrested For Attempted Murder After Bay Area Shooting

The District Attorney’s office sought 30 years in prison for Velasquez for the attempted murder of all three people in the truck, though there is no evidence that Velasquez shot Goularte.

Judge Arthur Bocanegra declared that Velasquez’s case revolved around unique circumstances that required a more nuanced approach when discussing punishment. Velasquez’s five-year sentence includes credit for the time he has already served; it is estimated that he will spend roughly a year in prison.

A reporter for the area’s local television station KRON noted that Bocanegra had tears in his eyes while he sentenced Velasquez, and stated, “Keeping a son from his father was the worst punishment.”

Following news of the sentencing, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office condemned the decision, declaring that civilians should leave serving justice to law enforcement. District Attorney Jeff Rosen said, “One man’s decision to take the law into his own hands left an innocent man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, teachers, and many others in our community…If you want to do justice in Santa Clara County, please apply for a badge.”

Goularte has denied allegations of child molestation and is awaiting trial. He was released from custody “on the supervised own recognizance release program with GPS monitoring over the District Attorney’s objections.”