Former UFC champion pleads ‘no charges’ in vigilante shooting

Two-time UFC champion Cain Velasquez pleaded guilty but not guilty to attempted murder in connection with a 2022 “vigilante” shooting in which he targeted a man accused of sexually assaulting his relative, but instead shot and wounded the man's stepfather, prosecutors said Friday.

Velasquez, 42, also pleaded guilty to assault and other weapons charges, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. The Salinas native faces an undetermined prison sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

As part of the deal, a previous charge of willful intent was dropped, according to Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney Aaron French. French added that a judge could still sentence Velasquez to life in prison on the weapons charges.

The shooting occurred during a chase through the streets of Morgan Hill and San Jose on Feb. 28, 2022, according to prosecutors and previous Chronicle reporting. At an intersection in Morgan Hill, Velasquez began firing at the car carrying Paul Bender, Harry Goularte, 43, who remains charged with child abuse, and his mother, Patricia Goularte, prosecutors said.

As the three tried to flee from Velasquez, he rammed them and continued firing shots, hitting Bender, Goularte's stepfather, in the arm as they drove past the Charter School of Morgan Hill. Velasquez was stopped and arrested by Morgan Hill police, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said a review of Velasquez's phone after his arrest showed he had searched for topics such as “sexual assault cases where the victim's family fights back” and “sexual assault cases where the victim's family fights back.”

After his confession on Friday, Bender told Mercury News: “In a case like today, he changes his plea to guilty to 10 violent crimes involving a firearm and our system lets him go free? How in God's name is that possible? I'm looking for someone to explain this to me.”

Harry Goularte was unharmed in the attack. He is not in custody after a judge released him under the self-recognized release program with GPS monitoring, according to prosecutors, who also objected to Goularte's release.

In a statement on Friday, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen stressed that Velasquez could have injured even more bystanders.

“This defendant decided to be judge, jury and executioner,” Rosen said. “His actions endangered innocent bystanders, including young children and their parents, who could have been injured or killed when he shot his intended victim. We have excellent law enforcement in this district. Let them do their jobs.”

Velasquez retired from the UFC after a fight with Francis Ngannou on February 17, 2019, which Velasquez lost.