Cain Velasquez is set to stand trial on a slew of charges, the most serious being attempted murder, beginning September 9 in Santa Clara County, California.
Judge Elizabeth Peterson set the trial date on Wednesday with Velasquez appearing in court alongside his attorney Renee Hessling. Initially, Hessling requested another continuance, but prosecutor Aaron French, who represents the District Attorney’s office, successfully argued that the trial had already been delayed several times.
Peterson ultimately sided with the prosecution and set a trial date for September.
In March 2022, the former UFC heavyweight champion was taken into custody after he allegedly pursued a man, Harry Goularte, during a high-speed chase. Goularte is accused of sexually assaulting Velasquez’s then-four-year-old son at a day care owned by his mother, Patricia Goularte. Velasquez is accused of firing several rounds at the vehicle with a handgun, hitting Goularte’s stepfather who was driving.
Velasquez remained behind bars for nearly nine months before being granted bail with GPS monitoring. He has since been permitted to travel for wrestling and MMA events.
Cain Velasquez Faces 20 Years to Life If Convicted of Attempted Murder
According to MMA Junkie, Velasquez, 41, faces charges of attempted murder (one count), 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).
If found guilty of attempted murder, Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison.
Representatives for Velasquez will return to the courtroom on June 26 for a trial readiness hearing, with motions required to be filed no later than August 12 and completed by the 26th. Witness lists for the prosecution and defense must be filed no later than September 4, five days before the trial is scheduled to begin.
