"I would not release you" Judge's unexpected remarks on Cain Velasquez's hearing

Cain Velasquez and his legal team won in court after a Santa Clara County (Calif.) judge granted bail to the former UFC champion.

Velasquez’s release terms include a $1 million bail, GPS monitoring, and compliance with a long list of conditions, including no weapons, TBI/CTE outpatient treatment, counseling, search and seizure restrictions, and a protective order to stay at least 300 yards away from alleged victims Harry Goularte, Patricia Goularte, and Paul Bender.

Mark Geragos, Velasquez’s lead defense attorney, had previously requested bail three times but was denied each time. A writ petition submitted to a California appellate court also was denied.

Judge Arthur Bocanegra spoke at the hearing and talked to Cain Velasquez. He gave the former UFC fighter several recommendations about what he should do now that he is out of jail.

“Mr. Velasquez, I would not release you if I was not convinced that upon a release at this time, eight months later, you would be a danger to Harry Goularte primarily, Patricia Goularte, or Paul Bender,” Bocanegra said. “If you are as devoted a husband and father, I’m confident and have to believe you will not jeopardize anything that would take you away from your son, your daughter, your family. I hope you don’t prove me wrong.”

Velasquez, speaking for the first time during the two-day pre-trial, stated, “I won’t, your honor.”

Why was Cain Velasquez locked up?

Velasquez, 40, has been imprisoned since February 28 after pleading not guilty in August. After being denied bail four times by Judge Shelyna Brown, he was granted release by Judge Arthur Bocanegra on Tuesday at the end of a preliminary hearing. When Velasquez fired into the vehicle Goularte was riding in, he allegedly shot Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender. Bender was not seriously hurt.

As stated by the DA’s office, Velasquez followed Goularte’s truck in his own vehicle on an “11-mile, high-speed chase” through the city of San Jose, hit the truck, and fired a 40-caliber revolver multiple times into the truck, which was carrying Goularte, Bender, and Goularte’s mother, Patricia. Bender was hit by a bullet, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

As per a court filing, Velasquez’s kid informed police on February 24 that Goularte brought him into a childcare center bathroom and touched his genitals. The boy stated that Goularte urged him not to tell anyone what happened and that this event may have happened “100 times.” The child also stated that he saw Goularte enter the bathroom with other children.