Cain Velasquez denied bail a second time, remains jailed
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will remain in jail after Judge Shelyna Brown today denied him bail for a second time according to a report from Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.
Velasquez was originally arrested on February 28 after he allegedly went on a high speed chase while also firing multiple rounds from a .40 caliber handgun in pursuit of a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting a close relative of Velasquez.
A bullet fired from the the gun struck another passenger in the vehicle, Paul Bender, who is Goularte’s stepfather.
During his statement, Bender claimed his brachial artery was severed as a result of the gunshot wound and he’s lost use of three of his fingers, which has prevented him from being able to work.
“Cain Velasquez has no respect for human life,” Bender said. “He does not care about the rule of law. If given the opportunity, I think he will try to finish what he started.”
Velasquez’s attorney, Mark Geragos, argued that the former UFC star turned pro wrestler may be suffering from early signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which is caused by head trauma.
The judge initially denied bail at a preliminary hearing citing that Velasquez posed a threat to the community and her verdict today didn’t seem to stray from that logic.
“This was such a reckless disregard for human life,” Brown said. “In this case it is not just Mr. Goularte and his family. It is every single citizen who was in danger of being shot or rammed with the vehicle at the time of this seven mile chase.
“So this court is not thinking of not only of Mr. Goularte and his family but this court is considering every single citizen in Santa Clara county who was in proximity to this alleged incident.”
Velasquez is charged with attempted, premeditated murder and if found guilty, faces a minimum of 20 years to life behind bars.
