Tue Mar 25 02:09:04 UTC 2025: ## Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez Sentenced to Five Years for Attempted Murder
**San Jose, CA** – Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for attempted murder following a high-speed chase and shooting incident last year. Velasquez pleaded no contest in August to charges stemming from the February 2022 incident, in which he pursued a truck carrying the man accused of molesting his son.
The shooting occurred after Harry Goularte, who faces felony child molestation charges, was released from custody on pre-trial release. Velasquez, believing the legal system failed to protect his child, engaged in a 11-mile car chase, firing multiple shots at Goularte’s truck. While Goularte was unharmed, his stepfather, who was driving, sustained injuries from the gunfire.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen described the incident as a “vigilante shooting spree,” emphasizing that seeking justice should be done through proper legal channels. “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,” Rosen stated.
Velasquez’s defense attorney, Renee Hessling, called the sentence “bittersweet,” noting that while they had hoped for a different outcome, Velasquez has accepted responsibility for his actions. Hessling highlighted Velasquez’s courage and strength of character throughout the legal proceedings.
In a previous podcast interview, Velasquez himself acknowledged the dangerousness of his actions, stating, “We cannot put the law in our own hands.” He expressed remorse for endangering innocent bystanders.
Velasquez, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, retired from professional fighting in 2019. He will receive credit for time served.
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