The trial for former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been pushed back once again.
After multiple continuations delayed date setting, Velasquez and his defense attorney Renee Hessling appeared in Santa Clara County (Calif.) court Wednesday where Judge Panteha Saban granted their request to move the hearing once again – this time, to Aug. 2. The request was met with no objection from the district attorney’s office.
Velasquez, 40, has already pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including attempted murder after he allegedly chased and shot at a vehicle containing three people in February 2022. Velasquez spent over eight months in jail before he was granted bail with stipulations in November.
According to prosecutors, Velasquez targeted Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s then-four-year-old son at a daycare, but shot Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender instead, which caused injury.
Goularte was arrested prior to the alleged shooting and faces one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. Goularte has pleaded not guilty and will be due back in court for his own trial setting date July 5.
The Velasquez family has also filed a civil lawsuit against the Goulartes, Bender, and businesses with addresses listed out of the daycare location, which was run by Goularte’s mother, Patricia.
If found guilty of attempted murder, Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, according to the California penal code.
