Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was denied bail on Monday in an attempted murder case, a Santa Clara County court spokesman said.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Shelina Brown said the “risk is too great” to allow Velasquez to be released on bail because of the “extreme recklessness” of the retired fighter’s actions.
The next court hearing in the Velasquez case is set for April 12, said Holly Baird, head of communications for Velasquez’s legal group Geragos & Geragos. According to Byrd, Velasquez cannot ask for bail again unless the district attorney adds or drops the charges.
“It is clear to this court that there is clear and compelling evidence that there is a significant possibility that release will result in serious bodily harm, not only for the named witnesses in this case, but for the people of Santa Clara in general,” Brown said. . “This case involves allegations of extreme recklessness towards human life.”
Velasquez, 39, was arrested Feb. 28 after allegedly stalking a man – Harry Eugene Goulart, who is accused of molesting a young relative of Velasquez – and shooting Goulart’s car with a handgun, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney. Another man in the car, Goulart’s stepfather, Paul Bender, was shot in the arm and torso by one of the shots. Bender received injuries incompatible with life.
“Is there anyone who would tell your father that this is not what you should be doing?” Velázquez’s lawyer Mark Geragos said in front of the courthouse on Monday, according to KRON 4. “Is there anyone who thinks it’s beyond the point that the father was not consulted when they released the perpetrator back to the public on zero bail, but they? Cain without bail? That’s why people are disgusted – and rightfully so – with the criminal justice system.”
Last Wednesday, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen formally charged Velasquez with attempted murder and 10 other weapons-related charges. Velasquez faces 20 or more years in prison if found guilty.
Velázquez followed Goulart’s truck in his own vehicle on an “11-mile high speed chase” through the city of San Jose, rammed the truck and fired multiple shots with a .40 caliber handgun at the truck carrying Goulart, Bender and Goulart. mother, Patricia, according to the district attorney’s office.
Gularte, who was not injured in the shooting, is charged in Santa Clara County with an indecent or lascivious act against a child under the age of 14.
Goulart, 43, was released from custody on Feb. 25 without bail, against an order from the district attorney. He was ordered to remain under house arrest, keep 100 yards away from any child under 14, and wear an electronic tracking bracelet.
According to a court document obtained by ESPN, the child, who is under 10 years old, told a Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputy on Feb. 24 that Goulart took him to the daycare bathroom and touched the child’s genitals. The child said that Goulart told not to tell anyone about what happened and that it happened “100 times”. In a court document, the child said he saw other children also go to the bathroom with Goulart.
Goulart denies any wrongdoing, saying he once helped a child with pants when he saw that the child was wearing them incorrectly. Goulart lives in the same building as his mother’s kindergarten, according to a court document. Goulart’s mother told police that she did not believe the allegations against her son.
A court hearing in the Goulart case has been scheduled for April 13, according to court records.
Velasquez is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion. He retired from MMA in 2019 and had a brief stint with WWE before being released at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Velasquez trains at his longtime American Kickboxing Academy gym in San Jose.
Geragos, Velasquez’s lawyer, also represented Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and Scott Peterson.