Trial date set for Harry Goularte, man accused of molesting Cain Velasquez's son
The man accused of molesting the son of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has a jury trial date set in a near-three-year-long criminal case.
Harry Goularte did not appear in person for a trial setting hearing Wednesday in Santa Clara county (Calif.) court, though he did join electronically as he was given a June 2 jury trial date by judge Benjamin Williams.
Williams ordered Goularte must appear in person for his jury trial.
Goularte faces one felony count of lewd acts with a minor after he was accused of molesting Velasquez’s then-four-year-old son at a daycare owned and operated by his mother in February 2022.
Since his arrest, Goularte has been out on bail with GPS monitoring. He has maintained his innocence and has pleaded not guilty.
Days after his arrest and release, Goularte and his family were allegedly pursued in a high-speed car chase during which Velasquez pursued them and fired a handgun that struck and injured Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender.
Velasquez was arrested on a litany of felony charges, including attempted murder. He was held without bail for nine months before he was eventually released on $1 million bail with conditions in November 2022.
Initially, Velasquez pleaded not guilty to all charges. In August, he pleaded no contest in an apparent deal with prosecutors. He is set for sentencing Jan. 24.
The Velasquez family is suing the Goularte and his family, as well as their associated businesses, in an ongoing civil lawsuit.