Cain Velasquez – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Harry Goularte trial setting delayed again in child molestation case

Harry Goularte, the man who allegedly sexually assaulted the young son of former UFC champion Cain Velasquez, currently awaits trial.

The man who allegedly sexually assaulted the young son of former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] won’t go to trial until September at the earliest.

Harry Goularte appeared virtually in Santa Clara County (Calif.) court Wednesday. Presiding Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya granted his trial-setting hearing be continued until Aug. 30. Goularte has pleaded not guilty to one felony count of lewd acts with a child after he was accused of inappropriately touching the then-4-year-old boy at a daycare center.

If found guilty, Goularte could face up to eight years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. There is currently a coinciding civil lawsuit filed by the Velasquez family against Goularte, as well as Goularte’s family and related businesses.

Police arrested Goularte in February 2022 after an investigation and interview with the child. Goularte was released from custody two days later on $50,000 bail with the stipulation of GPS monitoring. Three days later, Velasquez was arrested after he allegedly chased and shot at a car that contained Goularte and Goularte’s family members.

Velasquez was incarcerated for nearly nine months before he was eventually granted bail in November 2022. Velasquez faces a number of felony charges, including attempted murder. He is out of custody on GPS monitoring and has partaken in professional wrestling matches in recent months. Velasquez is due back in court for a trial setting date of his own Aug. 2.

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Cain Velasquez court proceedings continue to stall as trial setting pushed back again

The court proceedings for ex-UFC champion Cain Velasquez continue to stall.

The trial for former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] has been pushed back once again.

After multiple continuations delayed date setting, Velasquez and his defense attorney Renee Hessling appeared in Santa Clara County (Calif.) court Wednesday where Judge Panteha Saban granted their request to move the hearing once again – this time, to Aug. 2. The request was met with no objection from the district attorney’s office.

Velasquez, 40, has already pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including attempted murder after he allegedly chased and shot at a vehicle containing three people in February 2022. Velasquez spent over eight months in jail before he was granted bail with stipulations in November.

According to prosecutors, Velasquez targeted Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s then-four-year-old son at a daycare, but shot Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender instead, which caused injury.

Goularte was arrested prior to the alleged shooting and faces one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. Goularte has pleaded not guilty and will be due back in court for his own trial setting date July 5.

The Velasquez family has also filed a civil lawsuit against the Goulartes, Bender, and businesses with addresses listed out of the daycare location, which was run by Goularte’s mother, Patricia.

If found guilty of attempted murder, Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, according to the California penal code.

Cain Velasquez trial setting date pushed back two months

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was back in Santa Clara County court Wednesday.

The trial setting hearing for former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] has been pushed back.

Velasquez was present in-person Wednesday for a hearing at Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif., during which his lead attorney, Renee Hessling, requested the matter be continued to a later date. Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya granted the request, with a rescheduled date of Wednesday, May 24.

If found guilty of attempted murder, Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, according to the California penal code.

Harry Goularte waives right to speedy trial as date setting delayed one month

The man accused of molesting the son of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez went before the court (virtually) Monday.

It’ll be at least four more weeks until accused child molester Harry Goularte gets a date for trial.

At a trial setting hearing held Monday at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif., Goularte waived his right to a speedy trial. The date setting hearing was rescheduled for April 12. Goularte did not attend the hearing in person but joined virtually.

Goularte, 44, previously pleaded not guilty to one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. He was arrested in February 2022 after he allegedly touched the genitals of a child in a bathroom at a daycare run by his mother. The child was later identified as the then-4-year-old son of former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag].

At a Feb. 27 hearing, Velasquez’s son, Cain Jr., took the stand to testify and reaffirmed claims that Goularte touched his penis. Cain Jr. received questioning from both Deputy District Attorney Robert Philbrook and Goularte defense attorney Stephen DeFilippis.

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After his initial booking, Goularte was released on terms of bail, including GPS monitoring. Days later, Velasquez was arrested after he allegedly followed Goularte and Goularte’s family in a high-speed chase in broad daylight as he discharged a firearm. Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, was allegedly struck in the arm and suffered a debilitating injury.

Out on bail since November, Velasquez has pleaded not guilty as he faces a handful of charges, including attempted murder. Velasquez is due back in court Wednesday for a trial setting date of his own.

Enrique Barzola glad to have Cain Velasquez back coaching at AKA: ‘He’s truly pushing us to our limit’

Enrique Barzola is happy to see Cain Velasquez back coaching at AKA.

[autotag]Enrique Barzola[/autotag] is excited to return to the Bellator cage on Friday.

“The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2” winner is eager for his first fight of 2023. He’s set to take on veteran Erik Perez in a featherweight contest at Bellator 292 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Not only will Barzola (18-7-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) get a chance to snap a two-fight skid and restart a campaign for the Bellator bantamweight title, but he’ll also get to fight having prepared with none other than former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag].

Velasquez is back to coaching the MMA team at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose after he was granted bail this past November in his case of attempted murder involving a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son.

“At the moment, he’s a coach of the team,” Barzola told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “He’s working with us. He’s working with all the fighters, from the young ones to the ones that have a long trajectory in MMA. He helps us focus. He supports and pushes us with all the experience that he has. He was a great fighter, he was champion, so we all admire him at the gym.”

Barzola, who’s been training at AKA for the past several years, has experienced training under Velasquez before and after his legal situation arose. The Peruvian fighter sees a difference.

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“He’s always supported the fighters, even before this situation happened,” Barzola said. “Then he goes through that situation, he spent like half a year locked up because of what happened, and now he returns, and with a great attitude. His attitude just has so much excitement. He’s really pushing us.

“He’s not training us like he’s a retired fighter, and now he’s a coach. He’s training us like if he were still fighting. He’s really supportive, and he’s sharing all his experience with us. He’s truly pushing us to our limit. He’s a great coach.”

Barzola enters Bellator 292 on the heels of defeats to top contender Magomed Magomedov and former champion Juan Archuleta. Prior to the pair of loses, Barzola had a 2-0 start in Bellator, defeating Nikita Mikhailov and Darrion Caldwell.

After competing against some of the best in Bellator, Barzola thinks he can still put together wins and make another run for the title.

“Absolutely,” Barzola said. “If not, I wouldn’t be training. I still want to train hard every day. I have that discipline of waking up early, eating well, training hard, and everything needed to keep climbing. This sport is of ups and downs. I’m an experienced fighter and I plan on moving upwards. I’m waiting for my moment, and I’m focused. I’m going to be ready.

“I’m going to win two or three more fight, and then I can deserve to fight for the title. I don’t want the title right now, but it will come through my work and good results. I’m focused on this fight and hopefully next year I can be in a position to fight for the title.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.

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Judge rules Harry Goularte, man accused of molesting Cain Velasquez’s son, will go to trial

Former UFC champ Cain Velasquez was in court as his 5-year-old son testified before a judge ruled that his alleged molester will stand trial.

A judge has ruled that Harry Goularte, the man accused of molesting former UFC champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag]’s 5-year-old son, will stand trial for his alleged crime after the boy publicly implicated Goularte for the first time during a key preliminary hearing Monday.

Goularte, 44, was charged in February 2022 with one felony count of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14 – allegedly Cain Jr. when he was 4. Goularte pleaded not guilty to the charge last June.

The decision to go to trial was made by Judge Javier Alcala after a full day in Santa Clara County (Calif.) court in which Cain Jr., his mother and Cain Sr.’s wife, Michelle Velasquez, and Goularte’s mother, Patricia Bender, testified in court. Goularte is due back in court for a trial setting March 13.

After accommodations were made by the court to clear the room of non-essential members of the public, Cain Jr. was brought in and took the stand in the late morning.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Philbrook repeatedly tried to get yes or no answers out of the boy, who was allowed to color in a Pokemon coloring book while on the stand. Cain Sr. and Michelle were in the courtroom during Cain Jr.’s testimony, but they could not help him answer questions.

Finally, after a 15-minute recess when Cain Jr. started crying, with the help of a sketch of a stick figure drawn by Philbrook, Cain Jr. said Goularte used his hand to touch him on his penis in a bathroom at Bender’s daycare.

On cross examination, Stephen DeFilippis, Goularte’s lead defense attorney, called to attention Cain Jr.’s statement to police in which he said Goularte touched him “100 times.” On the stand, Cain Jr. said he was touched two times. He also asked Cain Jr. if his parents talked to him before the day about what would happen in court and what he should say. The boy said they did.

Court went on a lunch recess after Cain Jr.’s testimony. When it resumed, Michelle took the stand. She testified about the night that Cain Jr. told her and Cain Sr. about Goularte’s alleged molestation. She said Cain Jr. “seemed ashamed” when he told her about Harry touching his “penis and scrotum.” When she asked if Goularte put Cain Jr.’s penis in his mouth, she said her son answered yes. She said Cain Jr. told her that he saw Goularte go to the bathroom with two other kids from the daycare. No other alleged victims have knowingly come forward.

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Also on Monday, Bender testified that Goularte on occasion was at her daycare facility when children were present, but that he did not work there in an official capacity. Bender recalled an incident at the daycare in which she said a group of children teased Goularte and called him funny names, and that Goularte played back. At one point, she said, he picked up Cain Jr. and said he’d put him in a trash can if he didn’t stop calling him names before putting him back down.

Bender said she told Cain Jr.’s parents about the incident after it happened and testified that at a subsequent Halloween party, Cain Sr. approached Goularte, picked him up and joked he would put him in a trash can.

Cain Sr., who is out on bail and awaiting his next court appearance on charges that include attempted murder after allegedly shooting at Goularte last February, was not called as a witness.

Goularte was arrested and released on bail in February 2022. Since then, modifications were made to his bail requirements, including work allowance, the ability to move out of the county, and clearance to be around minor family members.

Judge Alcala said Monday that Goularte will continue to be free under these conditions.

Days after Goularte’s release in February, Velasquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder and other gun-related charges after he allegedly used his vehicle to pursue and shoot at Goularte and his family. He was released on bail in November and has since partaken in professional wrestling events.

Velasquez is due back in court for a trial setting March 15.

Alleged Cain Velasquez target Harry Goularte has pre-trial hearing extended again; mother located after warrant

Accused molester and alleged Cain Velasquez target Harry Goularte will return to court Feb. 27 – and his mother will be called as a witness.

The pre-trial hearing for accused molester and alleged [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] shooting target Harry Goularte has been pushed back again.

At a hearing Tuesday in Santa Clara County (Calif.) court that lasted approximately one minute, Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya ruled the matter be tabled until Feb. 27. The extension was the third granted for Goularte’s pre-trial hearing.

Additionally, district attorney representative Robert Philbrook requested a body attachment warrant issued in November for Goularte’s mother Patricia be extended to the new date. According to Philbrook, defense attorney Stephen DeFillipis indicated Patricia Goularte had recently been located and has agreed to attend the next hearing.

For months, the district attorney’s office struggled to locate and serve Goularte with papers to appear as a witness – paralleling similar ongoing struggles in a civil lawsuit by the Velasquez family against the Goulartes and their businesses.

Goularte faces one felony count of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. The alleged victim is Velasquez’s 4-year-old son, Cain Jr. In June, Goularte pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to investigators, Goularte sexually assaulted Cain Jr. at a daycare he resided at run by his mother. The child told investigators Goularte took him to the bathroom and touched his genitals. The child said it happened “100 times” and that other children were seen going into the bathroom with Goularte.

Goularte was arrested and released on bail in February. Since then, modifications were made to his bail requirements including work allowance, the ability to move out of the county, and clearance to be around minor family members.

Days after Goularte’s release in February, Velasquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder among other charges after he allegedly pursued and shot at Goularte and his family. He was released on bail in November and has since partaken in professional wrestling events.

Velasquez is due back in court for a trial setting March 8.

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Next Cain Velasquez hearing scheduled for March as attempted murder case moves toward trial

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez appeared once again in court, where he declared counsel and a trial-setting date was locked.

[autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] appeared in Santa Clara County court Wednesday, as his attempted murder case continues on.

In a hearing before Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya, Velasquez officially identified counsel before a trial-setting date was locked for March 8.

Velasquez will be represented by Renee Hessling, a California attorney who was a part of the legal team in the pre-trial proceedings led by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos.

Hessling, who appeared with Velasquez, also responded to a complaint from the court about an alleged violation of her client’s terms of release. Velasquez, who is out on $1 million bail with additional conditions, requires GPS surveillance and cannot leave his home without the court’s permission.

According to a report from the office of pre-trial services, there was an issue with Velasquez’s terms of release during a trip to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. However, Hessling tacked up the issue as a user error with a tracking application.

“Once he was contacted, he complied and there have been no other issues,” Hessling said. “I frankly don’t see this as an issue. I don’t see it as willful. I see it as an honest mistake. I don’t see any other complaints or issues by (pre-trial services) to change the status of Mr. Velasquez’s custody.”

Judge Nishigaya reiterated the importance of Velasquez following all terms and conditions properly, but did not penalize the error.

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Velasquez, 40, faces a handful of charges including attempted murder after he allegedly pursued and shot a gun at Harry Goularte, a man accused of molestation of Velasquez’s four-year-old son. After a high-speed chase, Velasquez allegedly struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, with a bullet and caused injury.

Goularte faces one felony count of lewd acts with a child and is due back in court Jan. 17 for a pre-trial hearing.

Both Velasquez and Goularte have pleaded not guilty.

A separate civil lawsuit has been filed by the Velasquez family against Goularte and his mother Patricia, Bender, and the family’s businesses.

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MMA stories of the year for 2022, No. 1: Cain Velasquez’s arrest, incarceration

Our top story of 2022 was the arrest and incarceration of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, which our SBC panel discussed.

It’s time to put on a bow on the year that was and get ready to turn the page.

Before that can happen, though, we must examine the top storylines of the past year. That was the focal point in the final 2022 episode of MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique,” on which we count down the top five storylines.

In late February, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] was arrested after he allegedly chased down a truck in his SUV and shot into it. He allegedly was aiming at Harry Goularte, who had been arrested and released on bail prior to that for alleged sexual abuse of Velasquez’s 4-year-old son.

Goularte’s stepfather was hit with a bullet allegedly fired by Velasquez, and the former fighter eventually was charged with attempted murder and nine other counts. Velasquez, after a number of court appearances, finally was granted bail in November, and in early December he was allowed to travel to Arizona to take part in a lucha libre wrestling event.

Velasquez is on house arrest in California and is awaiting his trial. Goularte is awaiting a trial on the charges against him, as well, and there also is a civil lawsuit filed by the Velasquez family against the day care center ran by Goularte’s mother and stepfather.

It’s been messy at times, and there seems to be any number of ways to court proceedings eventually could go. Our panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Nolan King discussed the top storyline of 2022. Check it out in the video above. Then don’t miss the full episode below.

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel.

Cain Velasquez: ‘A lot of alone time’ was one of drawbacks behind bars

Cain Velasquez is out of jail awaiting trial, but his lengthy incarceration isn’t far enough in his rearview mirror it can be forgotten.

[autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] is out of jail awaiting trial, but his lengthy incarceration earlier this year is not far enough in his rearview mirror that it can be forgotten.

Velasquez was granted bail Nov. 8 by a judge in Santa Clara (Calif.) County. Previous bail requests had been denied for Velasquez three times by a different judge.

Velasquez also was allowed to travel from California to Arizona to take part in a lucha libre wrestling event earlier this month – under court supervision.

His trial date is not yet set. A former UFC heavyweight champion, Velasquez is out on $1 million bail as he faces a number of charges including attempted murder. It was a fight to get former UFC heavyweight champion Velasquez out of incarceration, where he stayed for 253 days.

Velasquez recently appeared on the “Keepin’ It 100” podcast with former pro wrestler Konnan and said his time behind bars was in protective custody, and he was around just a small group of other inmates. He said he had time outside his cell for three hours a day, which he used to exercise and read.

But he said support of family and fans helped him through.

“My mind ran both sides of it – the bad side and the good side,” Velasquez said. “We always have to have faith. It doesn’t matter what position we’re in, where we’re at. We’ve always got to look for the best-case scenario for us and just know that our lives are something much bigger and it’s all going to work out for the best, always.

“… They had me in protective custody. It was very low-key. (There was) only a few people that I was able to kind of hang out with. I guess the good thing about it is you’ve got a lot of alone time with yourself, and the bad thing about it was you’ve got a lot of alone time with yourself.

“… I did (hear about the support), and I have, and I just want to thank everyone. I truly appreciate everyone’s support in all of it. It means so much to me. It gave me a lot of strength when I was in there. I feel it and I just want thank everybody forever for that.”

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