Harry Goularte, the accused molester involved in the ongoing Cain Velasquez case, has been forced into hiding as per his attorney.
Goularte, 43, did not attend his plea hearing on Wednesday as he faces a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor child said to be Velasquez’s daughter.
Instead, he joined his hearing virtually and was granted a continuance in the case after it was approved by Judge Le Jacqueline Duong. Goularte’s new plea hearing is now set for June 6.
Goularte was granted a $50,000 bail two days after his arrest.
Velasquez — who pursued Goularte by car after the latter was granted bail and ended up shooting the Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender on the shoulder — had his own plea hearing on Tuesday.
He, too, was granted a continuance and will have his new plea hearing take place May 6 at Santa Clara County Hall of Justice.
Velasquez has remained behind bars since his arrest for the incident and was notably denied bail for his “reckless” actions.
Goularte Forced Into Hiding Amid Cain Velasquez
Lead defense attorney Stephen DeFilippis told reporters afterwards that his client Goularte was innocent and that the public should not presume someone guilty until convicted.
He also added that Goularte will continue to attend hearings virtually.
“We intend to prove his innocence, and I think the people around here (protesting) should understand someone is presumed innocent until he’s convicted,” DeFilippis said (via MMA Junkie). “… He didn’t do it.”
In a separate interview on Thursday, DeFilippis revealed a big reason for Goularte’s virtual appearances was that he’s essentially been forced into hiding.
And with all the uproar against him — particularly from the MMA community — a fair trial looks unlikely according to DeFilippis.
“There’s clearly a security issue, that’s what’s driving the virtual appearances at this point,” DeFilippis said. “Mr. G very strongly denies the allegations in this case, and is looking forward to the ability to disprove those charges. But I just don’t understand how Mr. Goularte is going to get a fair trial in this county with this kind of uproar and the upheaval this case has had.”
Velasquez was a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion. Regarded as one of the best heavyweight fighters of all time, Velasquez retired from MMA competition in 2019.
