Cain Velasquez transferred to Wasco State Prison, parole eligibility date set

Yahoo

08-04-2025

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has made his first move into the California prison system after his conviction and sentencing following a no-contest plea on multiple charges including attempted murder.
Velasquez was handed a five-year sentence following his conviction, and he's currently being housed at Wasco State Prison just outside Bakersfield, Calif. The prison sits just over three hours away from Velasquez's home in San Jose, but Wasco is a set up as a reception center before inmates are transferred to longterm housing at a different facility.
Wasco is used to process, classify, and evaluate new inmates both physically and mentally to determine a security level for housing before being transferred to one of California's primary prison facilities like San Quentin or Folsom State Prison.
Based on the terms of his sentencing, Velasquez comes eligible for parole for the first time in March 2026, but that date could change based on the retired UFC heavyweight knocking off additional time for good behavior, participation in certain prison programs, etc.
While Velasquez was issued a five-year sentence he immediately had three-plus years knocked off due to time already served after he spent eight months behind bars following his initial arrest when he was denied bail several times. When Velasquez was eventually released, he was placed under house arrest and wore an ankle monitor so that time was also removed from his sentence.
Unless something dramatically changes, Velasquez could potentially go home as early as March 2026.
Velasquez was convicted after he engaged in an 11-mile, high speed chase going after a car containing Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting Velasquez's son at a daycare owned by his mother. Goularte faces charges of his own related to that case, but he was released from custody against the advice of the prosecution.
Velasquez fired several rounds from a handgun at the car but ultimately it was Goularte's stepfather Paul Bender who ended up being shot while sustaining non-life threatening injuries.
Velasquez was eventually arrested without incident and hit with a multitude of charges, including attempted murder.
The next court date for Velasquez comes on April 16 when he faces restitution for his crimes, which is where a judge issues a financial penalty that is due to the victims in the case. Restitution can include lost wages, medical costs, therapy and counseling and even insurance deductibles.
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