SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez said he is ready to accept whatever sentence is handed down by a Santa Clara County judge on March 24.
"The way that I handled things is not the way to do it. We cannot put the law in our own hands. I already pled guilty. I know what I did, and I know what I did was very dangerous to other people. Not just to people involved, but to innocent people. Whatever the court feels is correct ... I'm going to do it with my head up, and still be me," Velasquez said on the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast.
The podcast episode was recorded on March 6 after a judge granted permission for Velasquez to travel from his Gilroy home to Texas, court records show. Kingsbury is Velasquez's friend and former teammate.
The mixed martial arts fighter has been out of jail on $1 million bail since November 2022.
Cain Velasquez (Getty Images File Photo)Prosecutors said Velasquez went on a "vigilante shooting spree" when he attempted to kill a suspected child molester on Feb. 28, 2022. Velasquez pleaded “no contest” to attempted murder and eight additional charges last year. After several delays for his sentencing hearing, the MMA fighter said he is ready to receive his punishment Monday.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra could sentence the UFC star with the maximum punishment -- 40 years -- or let Velasquez go with zero prison time.
Prosecutors said Velasquez was seeking vigilante justice when he fired a gun at a suspected pedophile, Harry Goularte, in Morgan Hill. Goularte is charged with molesting one of Velasquez's children inside a San Martin daycare that was operated by Goularte's mother.
Prosecutors said Velasquez missed his intended target and accidentally shot Goularte’s father-in-law, Paul Bender. Bender survived.
Cain Velasquez appears in the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on March 2, 2022, in San Jose. (Aric Crabb /Bay Area News Group / Pool)On the podcast, the MMA fighter said he is relieved that the Goularte family's daycare center has since closed. Court records show Goularte, who pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to stand trial in June.
Kingsbury said on the podcast, "We know Cain inside and out. He has a giant f**king heart. Knowing what kind of father you are, I don't want to see your kids go without (their father)."
Velasquez said, "My son, he's one of the strongest, funniest, best kids I know. He's my best friend. I'm proud of him of who he is. Nothing is going to defeat me. I'm always going to know who I am. No matter what my surroundings look like. It doesn't matter what the exterior looks like. I understand there are consequences. (I will) pay back whatever the court feels is correct and take that with my head up high."
The podcaster said, "No one wants to see you go away for a long time, or even a short time."
Cain Velasquez is seen in the corner on February 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa / via Getty Images)KRON4 obtained a sentencing memorandum that was recently filed in court by prosecutors ahead of Monday's sentencing hearing. In the memorandum, Deputy District Attorney Aaron French asked the judge for a sentence of 30 years-to-life in prison.
French detailed reasons why the district attorney's office is asking for a minimum of three decades behind bars.
French wrote in court documents, "On Feb. 28, 2022, Cain Velasquez acted as judge, jury, and executioner when he decided to sentence Harry Goularte to death. During an 11-mile shooting spree taking place on the busy rush-hour streets of Morgan Hill, Velasquez discharged round after round of .40 caliber ammunition into a vehicle occupied by Harry Goularte and two other innocent people. In his blind rage for vengeance, Velaquez put an entire community in shock and fear. He placed countless members of the public in the line (of) fire as he attempted to execute Harry Goularte. He fired his gun recklessly through his windshield and with no concern of what man, woman, or child the bullets would strike. At one point during the 11 mile pursuit, numerous civilians frantically called 911. Velasquez violently rammed the victims' truck and discharged his firearm repeatedly. Velasquez left a wake of destruction and collateral damage to unintended targets. He permanently maimed Paul Bender as (Bender) tried to drive his family to safety. The defendant acted alone. He acted because he did not want to wait for the criminal justice system."
Prosecutors said a bullet was lodged in the back of Goularte's seat.
French continued, "The defendant's crime is severe. Justice demands a sentence that is equally severe. To hold the defendant accountable for his reckless and dangerous actions and the lasting physical and psychological injuries he left upon the victims and the community, the court should impose a sentence of 30 years to life in prison."
Velasquez, 42, has spend his last few months of freedom working as an MMA and Jiu Jiutsu coach around California, spending time with his children, and appearing with a nonprofit, Chokeout Cancer, at children's hospitals to visit young patients who are battling cancer, court records show.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled begin at 9 a.m. on March 24 in the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose.
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