Plea Hearing Pushed Back in Cain Velasquez’s Attempted Murder Case

Cain Velasquez’s trial on attempted murder charges has experienced a delay, with his official plea hearing pushed back. As you may recall, the UFC star and WWE alumnus was arrested and charged with attempted premeditated murder and other related charges after he allegedly shot at a man who was charged with molesting a close relative of the fighter’s, ramming his vehicle into the man’s car, and then shooting again. MMA Fighting reports that the plea hearing has been delayed until August 19th.

The site reports that an additional hearing is set for August 5th, during which motions will be heard before the official plea hearing. Velasquez is currently being held without bail after the incident, in which he allegedly had a high-speed chance with a car containing the man who was accused of molestation, Harry Goularte. The chase went on for 11 miles and Velasquez allegedly shot several times from a .40 caliber handgun at the car. He ended up shooting Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender, who suffered non-life threatening injuries.

In addition, the site reports that a civil lawsuit has been filed against Goularte, Bender, and Goularte’s mother Patricia, as well as Goularte’s business Certified Custom Concrete and Patricia’s business Patty’s Childcare. The lawsuit identifies a four-year old victim (who we are not naming as they are a minor and a victim of sexual assault) and alleges claims of general negligence, negligent hiring, supervision, retention, training and investigation, sexual battery, and sexual misconduct/sexual harassment.

The suit alleges that Goularte molested the child “several times” in 2021 and 2022 and states that they “suffered extensive personal injury including, but not limited to, severe emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment” due to Goularte’s actions. It was also noted that the childcare business had been previously cited for “failures to supervise the children attending the daycare.”

A hearing on the lawsuit is set for September 6th. Goularte’s next hearing in his criminal case is set for September 20th. Goularte faces up to eight years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine if convicted on all charges. Velasquez’s charge of attempted premeditated murder charges carry a potential sentence of 20 years to life.