Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez Sentenced to Multiple Years in Prison for 2022 Shooting

Trigger warning. This article contains mention of sexual abuse.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has officially been sentenced to five years in prison stemming from a shooting that occurred in 2022.

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During the shooting incident, Velasquez allegedly fired at a man who was accused of sexually assaulting his son. The man was not struck by a bullet, but the defendant's stepfather was struck instead.

Reports indicated that Velasquez charged at the vehicle containing Harry Goularte Jr., who was accused of sexually assaulting Velasquez's son at a daycare that is owned by the Goularte family. The vehicle also contained Goularte's mother and stepfather.

The stepfather was struck by a bullet. It was also reported that Velasquez was accused of ramming his vehicle into the vehicle that contained the Goularte family before he began firing the gun in his possession.

Velasquez was arrested for the incident and was released on bail. On Monday, his sentencing came down from Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra.

According to reports, Deputy District Attorney Aaron French was seeking 30 years to life in prison, but Velasquez was instead sentenced to five.

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Velasquez gave an interview before the sentencing, joining the "Kyle Kingsbury Podcast." While on the podcast, the former UFC champion revealed that he should have handled the situation much differently.

"The way that I handled things is not the way to do it. We cannot put the law in our own hands. I already pled guilty. I know what I did, and I know what I did was very dangerous to other people. Not just to people involved, but to innocent people. Whatever the court feels is correct ... I'm going to do it with my head up, and still be me," Velasquez said.

Court records show that Velasquez was granted permission to speak on the podcast, traveling to Texas to record the show on March 4. He has also been out on a $1 million bail since Nov. 2022.

According to kron4.com, "Prosecutors said Velasquez went on a 'vigilante shooting spree' when he attempted to kill a suspected child molester on Feb. 28, 2022."

According to BJPenn.com:

Velasquez was facing 10 charges including attempted murder; shooting at an occupied motor vehicle or aircraft; three counts of assault with a firearm; three counts of assault with a deadly weapon; willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony. If he is found guilty of attempted murder he faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, with additional time being added for the other charges, if found guilty."

Velasquez will now presumably spend the next five years in prison, unless he plans to appeal the decision.

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