(Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect new information)
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison, minus time served, for a 2022 shooting.
Velasquez, 42, appeared at a sentencing hearing Monday at Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif., after pleading no contest to charges, including attempted murder, and was handed a five-year sentence, according to NBC Bay Area.
Five years from the day of his arrest is Feb. 28, 2027.
According to multiple reporters in the courtroom, including veteran MMA journalist Josh Gross, Judge Arthur Bolcanegra said Velasquez will be credited with 1,283 days. That means he’ll have to serve 542 days behind bars.
Seventy spectators were on hand in the courtroom, according to KTVU FOX 2. Impact statements from Velasquez, his 15-year-old daughter, and his wife were read, in addition to statements from shooting target Harry Goularte and his family.
While prosecutors asked the judge for 30 years to life, the defense requested no prison time. An emotional Judge Bocanegra handed out his final ruling after a lunch recess.
BREAKING: UFC champ Cain Velasquez was sentenced to 5 years in prison, with 1,283 days credit for time served. The judge was choked up and had tears in his eyes. He said keeping a son from his father was the worst punishment, and he gave Cain the lightest possible sentence. pic.twitter.com/tnqPaHZtiQ
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) March 24, 2025
In a statement, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “One man’s decision to take the law into his own hands left an innocent man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, teachers, and many others in our community. If you want to do justice in Santa Clara County, please apply for a badge.”
The charges stemmed from a February 2022 incident when Velasquez drove his truck in a high-speed pursuit of another vehicle. Velasquez fired a handgun at the vehicle, which was later revealed to be carrying Goularte and family, who ran the daycare Velasquez’s then-4-year-old son attended. Goularte had been arrested days prior for allegedly molesting the young boy repeatedly.
The gunfire from Velasquez penetrated the Goularte’s vehicle and struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, causing an injury to the man’s arm. The Goularte family has repeatedly voiced fear for their lives.
Outside the courthouse after the verdict, Patricia Goularte and Bender spoke to reporters.
“The sentence is extremely disappointing. It’s based on an alleged allegation that has no basis,” Patricia Goularte said. “It is unfounded. We are looking for the opportunity in Harry’s case to prove that as we do have ample amount of evidence to do that. It’s sad that the court system and the public can be influenced by simply somebody stating something with no facts. We do look forward to that. I’m glad that we’re supported by all of our family members, friends, and multiple years of daycare children. If you notice (that are here) young children that grew up in that facility, none of which will back any of those allegations made by the Velasquez family.”
BREAKING: Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez sentenced to 5 years jail time with 3 years already served.
In February 2022, Velasquez is accused of shooting at a man & his parents during a 11-mile long high-speed car chase in Morgan Hill. 1/2 @abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/qRlxs68deJ
— LaurenABC7 (@LaurenABC7) March 24, 2025
Velasquez spent nearly nine months incarcerated in a jail cell and was denied bail until an appeal resulted in a different judge’s approval of conditional release. Judge Bocanegra pointed to Velasquez’s standing in the community and the swell of public support and protest as boosting his decision.
Velasquez had remained on GPS monitoring and was permitted to partake in various professional wrestling matches and MMA-related events.
In an interview days prior to the sentencing, Velasquez said he fully accepted responsibility for his actions and was willing to face the music.
“What I did was not correct,” Velasquez said. “I understand that. I paid, and I’ll pay whatever else as far as what I have to do to pay all that back. I don’t think I can pay it back, but I can always learn from my mistakes and help others. It’s just information that you never know anybody. Trust your kids. Have that open communication with your kids. When you do go to the bathroom with them when (they’re) very young, you can work your way in there as far as talking to them about what’s appropriate and what is not, so they know to tell you and they can always tell you whenever something is not correct. So as far as that goes, it’s basically that the more we get consciously aware of ourselves, the more that light shines on dark things, especially things like that.”
“… Even with that family and what they’ve done, I can’t have hate like that for them because there are things that I have to move on to and give love to my kids and give love to the people around. I’ve got to share this with everybody, so I can’t give hate to them at all. I wish them healing in the best way, whatever that is. I wish that for them. I understand that they have traumas, as well. It’s not right to spread it – no. I’m glad they themselves have stopped because they can’t practice any more as far as daycare. With my own time, I’ve forgiven them and everything else, and I know my kids are great.”
In addition to attempted murder, Velasquez had been charged with shooting at a motor vehicle or aircraft (one count), assault with a firearm (three counts), assault with a deadly weapon (three counts), willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle (one count) and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony (one count). He faced 20 years to life for the attempted murder charge alone.
Goularte has pleaded not guilty to one charge of lewd acts with a minor and is set for a June 2 trial.
There is also a separate civil lawsuit filed by the Velasquezs against the Goularte family and their associated businesses. The daycare, which was run by Goularte’s mother Patricia, has shut down.
