Ex-ASU wrestling star and UFC champ Cain Velasquez gets 5 years for vigilante shooting
Former UFC heavyweight champion and Arizona State University All-American wrestler Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison for a 2022 vigilante shooting in San Jose, California, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Velasquez, who was raised in Yuma, was arrested that year on 10 felony charges, including attempted murder, premeditated attempted murder and weapons charges, after chasing and shooting at a car carrying Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez's 4-year-old son.
Goularte's stepfather, who was also in the car, was struck by gunfire and suffered an arm injury but survived, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Velasquez pleaded no contest in August, and the premeditated attempted murder charge, which carried a potential life sentence, was dropped.
After sentencing Velasquez to five years in prison on March 24, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra credited him with three years served, including nearly a year in jail and almost two years under house arrest, according to MMA Junkie.
Goularte's mother, Patricia Goularte, was present for Velasquez's sentencing, MMA Junkie reported. She runs the daycare where prosecutors said that Velasquez's son was abused by Goularte.
Patricia Goularte argued that Velasquez's sentence was influenced by the charges her son faces and that they intend to prove his innocence, MMA Junkie said.
Goularte's Santa Clara trial was scheduled to begin in June. He faces one felony charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former ASU wrestler Cain Velasquez sentenced in attempted murder case
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Los Angeles Times
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- Los Angeles Times
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