Judge Denies Bail to Ex-UFC Champ Cain Velasquez in Attempted Murder Case

Cain Velasquez was denied bail at a hearing on Monday as he awaits trial on attempted murder charges stemming from a shooting incident on Feb. 28.

Judge Shelya Brown issued the ruling during an arraignment at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif., after listening to arguments from Velasquez attorney Mark Geragos and deputy district attorney Aaron French. Brown said the “risk is too great” to release Vealsquez on bail. The former UFC heavyweight champion is due back in court on April 12.

“It is clear to this court that there is clear and convincing evidence that there is a substantial likelihood that release would result in great bodily injury, not just to the named complaining witnesses in this case but to Santa Clara residents at large,” Judge Brown said (transcription via MMAFighting.com). “This case involves allegations of extreme recklessness to human life.

“Ramming a vehicle in the middle of the day where are citizens are out driving, going about their business and shooting out of a car at other individuals, which is reckless by any standard. Anyone could have been injured. Anyone could have been killed and when this court looks at article 1, section 12, it is this level of risk that the court must take into consideration. With that said, this court is making the ruling that the risk is too great and that there will be no bail set at this time.”

The 39-year-old Velasquez is accused of attempted murder, premeditated murder and a litany of other charges after firing a .40 handgun “multiple times” into a truck carrying Harry Goularte, Paul Bender and Patricia Goularte. Velasquez was targeting Harry Goularte, who allegedly molested a close relative of the fighter’s as many as “100 times.” Velasquez engaged in a high-speed chase through “busy streets” of San Jose with the vehicle and fired shots, ultimately wounding Bender, who is Harry Goularte’s stepfather.

The 43-year-old Harry Goularte had been charged with one felony count of a lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 on Feb. 25. A judge released him from custody without bail under the condition that he remain on home detention in Morgan Hill, stay away from children younger than 14 and wear an electronic ankle monitor – despite the protests of the district attorney’s office. Goularte was on his way to pick up the tracking device when Velasquez attacked the vehicle.

During the hearing, Velasquez’s attorney argued that Velasquez wasn’t a flight risk and displayed 37 letters of support for the UFC veteran. The district attorney, meanwhile, provided a statement from Patricia Goularte, who called 911 during the incident and claimed that the family was traumatized by Velasquez’s actions.