Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will remain in jail awaiting trial on charges of attempted murder after he was denied bail at Monday’s hearing.
Judge Shelina Brown heard arguments from both Velasquez’s attorney Mark Geragos and Deputy District Attorney Aaron French before making her decision.
“It is clear to this court that there is clear and convincing evidence that there is a significant likelihood that release will result in serious bodily harm, not only for the named witnesses who filed the complaint in this case, but for the residents of Santa Clara as a whole.” Judge Brown said. said. “This case involves allegations of extreme recklessness in relation to human life.
“Ramming a car in the middle of the day when citizens are going about their business and shooting other people from the car, which is reckless by any measure. Anyone could get hurt. Anyone could have been killed, and when this Court considers Article 1, Section 12, it is this level of risk that the Court must take into account. With that said, this court is ruling that the risk is too great and that bail will not be set at this time.”
Velasquez was arrested on February 28 after he allegedly participated in an 11-mile high-speed chase and also fired several shots with a . UFC champion.
Goulart was released on bail in his case over objections from the district attorney.
Velázquez allegedly chased the accused child molester out of his home before firing several shots at the car, and Gularte’s stepfather was hit by a bullet. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police arrested Velázquez minutes later without incident, and he was later charged with attempted premeditated murder.
During the indictment and bail hearing, Velázquez’s lawyer argued that his client could not have escaped, showing that he obtained his and his wife’s passports, and the court also received 37 letters in support of the retired fighter.
Geragos asked for bail to be set so that Velázquez could return home to his family while awaiting trial.
French countered with a victim statement provided by Goulart’s mother Patricia, who actually called 911 during the alleged altercation, stating that they were traumatized by his “terrible actions that day”.
The judge ultimately sided with the prosecution and felt that Velasquez posed too much of a potential danger to society to be released at this time as he awaits trial on multiple felony charges. He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Velasquez is due back in court on April 12 for his next hearing in the case.