Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez now has two new court dates after Friday’s plea hearing was granted another continuance and a bail hearing was set.
Cain Velasquez gets new court hearing dates
Velasquez appeared before the judge for the third time after being arrested for attempted murder earlier this year. Judge Jose S. Franco approved the request of the lead defense attorney, Mark Geragos, to set a bail hearing for May 16. A continuance was also allowed for the 39-year-old to reappear in court on June 10 for a plea hearing.
Initial attempts at getting bail for Velasquez were denied by Judge Shelyna Brown, who deemed his actions to be “reckless”. She considered him to be a danger to society while allowing the accused child molester to walk out free. Brown will be the same judge to rule on bail again at the May 16 hearing.
Multiple charges were brought against Velasquez including one charge each of attempted murder, shooting at a motor vehicle, willfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony. He also stands accused of three counts each of assault with a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon.
If found guilty of the most severe charge of attempted murder, Velasquez could be looking at serving a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison. He could also have time extended on his sentence if found guilty of the other counts.
#FreeCain rages on in support
Velasquez was arrested in Santa Clara County after he allegedly shot at accused child molester Harry Goularte. While he missed his intended target, the bullet struck Goularte’s stepfather in the arm as they fleed from his shots. Goularte faces a felony charge of “a lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14,” reported being a 4-year-old relative of Velasquez.
Members of the combat sports community rallied together to show their support for the former champion. Participants of the ‘#FreeCain’ movement took to the courthouse to stage protests against judge Brown’s rulings to keep Velasquez incarcerated.
Velasquez has shared three statements since being confined. In the first, he expressed gratitude to his supporters and encouraged more victims to come out. In the second, he asked for donations for RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) as part of National Sexual Assault Awareness & Child Abuse Prevention Month.
His third message came minutes before the hearing on Friday when he took to Twitter to wish his daughter a happy birthday and hoped to have his bail granted.
Happy 13th birthday Coco! I hope God grants us the ultimate gift for your birthday; for me to be home with you. I miss you so much! Te amo mucho. pic.twitter.com/OeaeKXKJDq
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) May 6, 2022
“Happy 13th birthday Coco! I hope God grants us the ultimate gift for your birthday; for me to be home with you. I miss you so much! Te amo mucho.“
