Cain Velasquez Receives 5-Year Sentence for Attempted Murder in 2022 Shooting
Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez Gets 5 Years for 2022 California Shooting
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prisonfollowing a high-profile shooting incident in 2022 that left one man wounded and sparked national debate about vigilantism and justice.
The incident, which occurred on February 28, 2022, involved an 11-mile high-speed pursuit through multiple cities in Santa Clara County. Velasquez, 42, reportedly opened fire from his vehicle at another car carrying Harry Goularte—the man accused of molesting Velasquez’s then-4-year-old son. Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, was struck during the incident and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Details of the Shooting
According to investigators, Velasquez began chasing a pickup truck carrying Goularte, Bender, and Goularte’s motherafter learning that Goularte had been released from jail just two days after his arrest on suspicion of child molestation. Goularte had been accused of abusing Velasquez’s son at a daycare facility operated by his mother in San Martin.
The chase spanned across Morgan Hill, San Martin, and San Jose, reaching speeds that endangered other drivers, pedestrians, and even children near a local charter school. During the pursuit, Velasquez fired multiple rounds from a .40-caliber handgun, striking Bender in the arm and torso. He also rammed the victims’ vehicle during the chase.
Authorities later located Velasquez and arrested him without incident in San Jose. He was initially booked on 10 felony charges, including:
- Attempted murder
- Assault with a firearm
- Shooting at an occupied motor vehicle
- Discharging a firearm from a vehicle
- Carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony
Plea Deal and Legal Proceedings
In August 2023, Velasquez entered a no contest plea to felony attempted murder, assault, and multiple weapons charges. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the premeditated attempted murder charge, which would have carried a potential life sentence.
Velasquez had previously spent more than 250 days in jail and nearly two years on house arrest with GPS monitoring. During this time, he also received outpatient treatment for suspected CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a brain condition linked to repeated head trauma—common among combat sports athletes.
Santa Clara County prosecutors emphasized the danger posed by Velasquez’s actions, noting that bullets were fired near a school as students were leaving for the day. According to investigators, phone searches recovered from Velasquez’s device included phrases like “sexual assault case where victims’ family retaliates.”
The Target of the Shooting
Harry Goularte, now 46, is still awaiting trial on a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor. He has pleaded not guiltyand is currently out of custody on supervised release with GPS monitoring, despite objections from the district attorney’s office. Goularte’s trial is set to begin on June 2, 2025.
Velasquez’s attorneys argued that he had acted out of extreme emotional distress after learning that Goularte had allegedly molested his child “hundreds of times.” The defense also cited Velasquez’s clean criminal record, status as a decorated athlete, and history of community involvement.
Background of Cain Velasquez
Velasquez is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, winning titles in 2010 and 2012. He retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 and briefly signed with WWE, where he performed until being released in 2020.
He has long been regarded as a respected figure in the combat sports world and had no prior criminal history before the 2022 shooting. Following his arrest, numerous figures from the MMA community—including UFC leadership—publicly supported Velasquez and submitted letters to the court on his behalf.
On March 24, 2025, a Santa Clara County judge sentenced Velasquez to five years in state prison, with 1,283 days of credit for time already served in jail and on house arrest.
