Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to kill the man accused of molesting his 4-year-old son, igniting debate across America about justice and parental rights.
Key Takeaways
- Cain Velasquez, 42, received a five-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to attempted murder and weapons charges stemming from a 2022 incident.
- Velasquez chased and shot at Harry Goularte, his son’s alleged molester, injuring Goularte’s stepfather during an 11-mile pursuit.
- The judge showed emotion during sentencing, acknowledging the case’s uniqueness and stating Velasquez is not a danger to public safety.
- With credit for time served (1,283 days), Velasquez will likely serve less than two additional years in prison.
- Goularte remains free under GPS monitoring while awaiting his June trial for child molestation charges.
A Father’s Desperate Actions
In March of 2022, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez embarked on an 11-mile high-speed chase of a pickup truck containing Harry Goularte, the man accused of molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son. The pursuit ended at an intersection in Morgan Hill, California, where Velasquez rammed the vehicle and opened fire with a .40 caliber handgun. While Goularte escaped unharmed, his stepfather, Paul Bender, sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his torso and arm, including a severed artery. The incident unfolded near a charter school as students were leaving for the day.
According to court documents, Velasquez’s son told investigators that Goularte had touched him inappropriately “100 times” at a daycare facility in San Martin operated by Goularte’s mother. Following the shooting, investigators discovered that Velasquez had conducted internet searches related to families retaliating in sexual assault cases, suggesting premeditation. The former MMA star faced 10 felony charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle.
JUST IN: Former UFC fighter Cain Velásquez sentenced to 5 years in prison for hunting down & firing at a man who allegedly mol*sted his 4-year-old son at daycare.
In 2022, Velásquez got in a high-speed, 11-mile chase with accused pedo Harry Goularte Jr. after finding out about… pic.twitter.com/BW8mWcCoq5
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 24, 2025
A Compassionate Sentence
Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra delivered the five-year sentence with visible emotion, reportedly having “tears in his eyes” during the proceedings. The judge’s decision fell far short of prosecutors’ request for 30 years to life in prison, while the defense had sought probation with time served. In explaining his ruling, Judge Bocanegra emphasized the unique nature of the case and the mitigating factors that influenced his decision, including Velasquez’s clean prior record and demonstrated remorse.
“This is a tragic case,” Judge Bocanegra stated during sentencing. “Mr. Velasquez is not a danger to public safety. This case is unique and unlike any other case this court has presided over. The mitigating factors outweigh the aggravating factors.”
The judge also recognized the profound impact on Velasquez’s family, noting that “punishment comes in many ways, and one of the worst is forcing a father to not be present in his child’s life.” With credit for 1,283 days already served, including eight months in jail prior to being released on bail with strict conditions, Velasquez will likely serve less than two additional years. Before being taken into custody, the judge allowed him a brief moment with his family to say goodbye.
Outrage Over Accuser’s Freedom
While Velasquez heads to prison, his son’s alleged abuser remains free. Harry Goularte awaits trial in June on charges of lewd acts with a minor, having pleaded not guilty to allegations that he molested Velasquez’s son on “multiple occasions.” Despite prosecutors’ objections, Goularte has been allowed to remain out of custody under GPS monitoring. This stark contrast in treatment has fueled significant outrage across the MMA community and among many parents who sympathize with Velasquez’s position.
It’s crazy that Cain Velásquez was sentenced to 5 years!!! The only thing he did wrong was missing the target!!!
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) March 25, 2025
The Velasquez family has filed a civil lawsuit against the Goularte family and their businesses related to the alleged abuse. In addition to the criminal proceedings against Goularte, this civil action seeks damages for the trauma inflicted on their young son. Velasquez himself has expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that his violent response, regardless of the provocation, was wrong and accepting his punishment as part of the legal consequences for taking matters into his own hands.
