Would-be ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ Cain Velasquez avoids trial, but retired UFC star still faces prison after hunting down accused child molester

Cain Velasquez, Harry Goularte

Left: Cain Velasquez speaks after his release from jail in 2022 (Law&Crime Sidebar). Right: Harry Goularte (Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office).

Prosecutors in Santa Clara County, California, dubbed Cain Velasquez a would-be “judge, jury, and executioner” and said he still faces prison time after the retired UFC star pleaded no contest on Friday to attempted murder and other charges for engaging in a 100 mph pursuit and shooting at a truck in 2022 in search of the man accused of molesting his then 4-year-old son at a day care.

Velasquez, now 42, had faced possible mandatory life behind bars, albeit with potential parole, if he went forward with a September trial and ended up convicted in the case, but according the Mercury News, he has avoided both the trial and likely the theoretical worst case scenario given the plea, even though the judge will retain discretion under a negotiated disposition between the state and the defense over whether to dole out probation, a prison sentence, or life, whenever that sentencing proceeding occurs.

You May Also Like

‘They’re cowards. He wasn’t’: Dad rescuing 12-year-old son from friend’s parents is hit with a brick and run over by a car while trying to escape, police say

Background: Norman Duncan (The Cleveland, Ohio Remembrance Page/Facebook). Insets: Marvin Atkins (top)…

‘Taking no action is not facilitation’: Judge orders Trump admin to bring back 2nd ‘wrongfully’ deported man

Main: President Donald Trump, left, waves as he greets El Salvador’s President…

With House and Senate Split on Size of Tax Cuts, Florida Legislature Goes Into Overtime

A game of chicken over taxes. (© FlaglerLive) With the Senate and…

Judge Says Bryan Kohberger’s Autism Diagnosis Doesn’t Exempt Him From Death Penalty

The judge overseeing the case of Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four…