Former UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who remained eight months in custody over an attempted murder case, has been granted $1 million bail on Tuesday.
Judge Arthur Bocanegra, of Santa Clara County, California, USA, granted Velasquez bail, after a pre-trial hearing that lasted almost 13 hours over two days. The Lucha Libre AAA wrestler was arrested earlier this year on charges including attempted murder and 10 other gun-related charges in Santa Clara County.
“This incident is extremely serious, but appears to be isolated behavior on the part of Mr. Velasquez. There is also a viable passion that defends the heat. Mr. Velásquez, I would not release him if he was not convinced that, after eight months in prison, he would be a danger, especially to Harry Goularte, Patricia Goularte or Paul Bender. If you are such a devoted husband and father, I am sure, and I have to believe, that you will not jeopardize anything that takes you away from your son, your daughter, your family. I hope you don’t prove me wrong,” Judge Bocanegra commented with the following response from Velasquez: “I won’t, Your Honor.”
The MMA legend and two-time UFC heavyweight champion was arrested in back February after chasing down and attempting murder on Harry Goularte, who is charged with sexually assaulting a minor, who was first assumed as a close relative of Velasquez and was later revealed to be his four-year-old son. Goularte, who works in a daycare, was accompanied by his mother and his stepfather, Paul Bender, who was shot twice as Velasquez opened fire on their vehicle.
The terms of Cain Velasquez’s release include posting a $1 million bond, GPS monitoring, and compliance with a set of terms, including not using weapons, outpatient psychological treatment, counseling, search and seizure conditions, and a precautionary measure to not come within 300 yards of Harry Goularte, Patricia Goularte and Paul Bender, alleged victims of the assassination attempt, as revealed by Velasquez’s attorney, Mark Geragos
“It’s been a long slog and I am very grateful,” Geragos revealed to ESPN. “Nothing is as touching as watching him having it sink in with his wife, Michelle, there.”
Velasquez faces 10 counts, including attempted murder, assault with a firearm, assault with a lethal weapon, and possession of a loaded firearm with intent to commit a crime, among others. If he is convicted, the fighter could face a sentence of 20 years in prison or even life in prison.
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