SAN JOSE, Calif. — Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison Monday for a 2022 shooting spree targeting a man accused of molesting his son. The sentencing, handed down March 24, 2025, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, followed his August no-contest plea to 10 felony counts, including attempted murder.
The incident erupted February 28, 2022, when Velasquez, 42, chased a truck carrying Harry Goularte, 46, for 11 miles through San Jose streets. Goularte faces felony child molestation charges for allegedly abusing Velasquez’s 4-year-old son at a daycare run by the man's mother, Patricia Goularte.
Velasquez fired a registered .40-caliber handgun, hitting Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm with non-life-threatening injuries.
Bullets flew near a school, endangering children and parents, according to prosecutors. Judge Arthur Bocanegra credited Velasquez’s time served—eight months in jail and over two years on house arrest—cutting his actual prison time to about one year, per KTVU.
His attorney, Renee Hessling, called the outcome “bittersweet,” having hoped to avoid jail entirely.
Velasquez told a podcast last week he’d accept the ruling “with my head up.” In court, he wished the Goularte family “healing,” noting his son is “doing well.” The plea deal dropped a premeditated murder charge that could’ve meant life in prison.
Velasquez’s MMA career peaked with UFC titles in 2010 and 2012, defending against Junior dos Santos and knocking out Brock Lesnar in his prime. He retired in 2019 after a 26-second knockout loss to Francis Ngannou, ending a 14-3 record that made him a fan favorite. The shooting stunned a sport where he’d been a quiet, respected figure.
That February day, Velasquez learned Goularte was free on supervised release despite the charges. He grabbed his gun and pursued, with phone searches later showing he’d studied cases of families retaliating against abusers, prosecutors said. The DA, Jeff Rosen, stood firm:
“We have excellent law enforcement… Let them do their jobs.”
Goularte’s criminal trial is slated for June 2, while a civil suit from Velasquez against the Goularte family—alleging negligence at the daycare—hits court in May.
Velasquez got $1 million bail in November 2022 after eight months locked up, then spent over two years on GPS-monitored house arrest. Hessling argued he acted on “instinct to protect his child,” not malice.
The courtroom clash pitted a father’s fury against legal limits. Fans might see a man failed by a system too slow—Goularte still out—yet the reckless chase near kids shifted the narrative: protector or public threat? Velasquez told police he aimed to “right a wrong,” but the law didn’t bend.
The sentencing marks a steep fall for a fighter who once ruled the octagon. His son’s alleged abuse sparked a vendetta that landed him back in a cell, not a cage. For a vigilant crowd, it’s a raw tale—justice feels personal, but the price is steep.
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