Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was paroled Sunday from a California state prison after being locked up for the 2022 shooting of his son’s alleged abuser.
Velasquez, 43, only served 11 months of his formal five-year sentence, but was also given credit for time served, including house arrest while his case played out in court.
In February 2022, the former UFC star raced after alleged abuser Harry Goularte during an 11-mile pursuit in which Velasquez repeatedly opened fire at the fleeing vehicle. Velasquez accused the man of molesting his then-4-year-old son.
Mr. Goularte’s mother and stepfather were passengers in the car, and his stepfather suffered two bullet wounds to his right arm.
“What I did was not correct,” Velasquez said inside a San Jose courtroom last March. “I paid, and I’ll pay whatever else as far as what I have to do to pay all that back. I don’t think I can pay that back, but I can always learn from my mistakes and help others. It’s just information that you never know anybody. Trust your kids. Have that open communication with your kids.”
Prosecutors sought to imprison the retired fighter for up to life after he pleaded no contest to all charges in his case.
But Santa Clara County Judge Arthur Bocanegra, who was brought to tears by the circumstances surrounding Velasquez’s crimes, gave the ex-champion the lightest sentence possible.
“The sentence is extremely disappointing,” Patricia Bender, Mr. Goularte’s mother, said after last year’s hearing. “It’s based on an alleged allegation that has no basis. It is unfounded. We are looking for the opportunity in Harry’s case to prove that.”
Mr. Goularte is currently facing felony charges of lewd acts with a minor. Velasquez’s son was attending a day care run by Ms. Bender when the alleged abuse took place.
Velasquez first won the heavyweight title with a 2010 knockout over Brock Lesnar. He reclaimed the title in 2012 when he defeated Junior Dos Santos.
Velasquez successfully defended his heavyweight crown two more times before he finally lost it in 2015. He retired from the UFC in 2019.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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