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Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez denied bail again in attempted murder case

Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez was once again denied bail in his attempted murder case.

A Santa Clara County, California, judge denied bail for Velasquez again Monday, according to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, while citing his “reckless disregard for human life.” He was first denied bail on March 7, and is due in court next for a plea hearing on June 10.

Velasquez was first arrested in February and charged with attempted murder, among other things, after he allegedly chased down Harry Goularte — who was charged in a separate case of allegedly molesting Velasquez’s young relative at a daycare center.

“It’s especially outrageous when you realize that the accused pedophile and his stepfather, who did nothing but protect [Goularte] at the daycare center, are parading around like victims,” Velasquez’s attorney, Mark Geragos, told ESPN of Monday’s decision. “If there’s any silver lining, it’s that the judge realizes that clearly we have a viable defense. We will assert it and we will assert it vigorously.”

Velasquez allegedly followed Goularte’s parents on their way to pick him up in the Bay Area in February, just days after Goularte was charged himself with a single count of lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14.

After Goularte’s parents picked him up, Velasquez allegedly followed them for some time before he shot once at their car. He then allegedly followed them further, rammed his car into theirs and shot several more times. Velasquez reportedly shot Goularte’s stepfather in the arm and torso. Velasquez then allegedly fled the scene after the chase, which went on for nearly 11 miles.

Goularte, 43, was charged after he allegedly took Velasquez’s relative, who is younger than 10, into a bathroom at the daycare center that Goularte’s mom runs. Goularte allegedly touched the child’s genitals “100 times,” and allegedly did this with other children, too. Goularte was released after his arrest and denied the accusations against him.

Plenty in the UFC world have spoken out in support of Velasquez since his arrest, including UFC president Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo.

Velasquez is facing 10 other gun-related charges along with his attempted murder charge. If convicted, he could face more than 20 years in prison.

Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez is due in court again next month after a judge cited his "reckless disregard for human life" when denying bail. (Aric Crabb/MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images) (MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images via Getty Images)