Cain Velasquez pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted murder in Santa Clara, California. The former UFC heavyweight champion is facing attempted murder and 10 other gun-related charges.
Velasquez’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, confirmed the news. ESPN. Velasquez allegedly fired shots into a vehicle containing Harry Goularte, his mother Patricia and his stepfather Paul Bender. Velasquez allegedly gave chase. And targeted Goularte, who is accused of molesting a young relative of Velasquez. The mixed martial artist allegedly shot Bender.
Prosecutors will not call Goularte to testify at a pretrial hearing scheduled for September. 26, according to Geragos. The lawyer argued that Goularte must be arraigned because he is an alleged victim of attempted murder. A motion hearing on August 29 will discuss the importance of having Goularte as a witness. If convicted on all counts, Velasquez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
“They’re desperately trying to run away from the fact that the system failed Kane,” Geragos said. “They don’t want to get into it. They want to make a case that is out of touch with reality.”
According to a court document obtained by ESPN, Velasquez’s relative told police that Goularte took her into the daycare center’s bathroom and touched her genitals. Goularte allegedly told the child not to tell anyone. The situation can be “100 times”. The child allegedly saw Goularte enter the bathroom with the other children.
Goularte was released on February. 25 from non-bailable detention. He was arrested for lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 years of age. Goularte pleaded guilty to the felony charge in June and has another court date scheduled for September. 20. The daycare center is owned by Goularte’s mother, Patricia. Velasquez’s family has filed a lawsuit against Goularte, Patricia and Bender for negligence and sexual battery.