Mark Geragos, the attorney for the former UFC champ, said that his client pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He is being charged with attempted murder and 10 other gun-related charges stemming from an incident where he allegedly chased down a man, Harry Goularte, who is being charged with molesting a young relative of Velasquez. He has been in jail for over a month and has been denied bail three times.
Geragos is hoping to get witnesses to testify at the pre- trial hearing. The trial could begin before the end of the year if the case isn't dismissed at that point.
Geragos said the prosecution won't be calling Goularte to testify at the trial or pre- trial hearing. A motion hearing will be held in August to discuss the fairness of Goularte not being a witness in the case. According to Geragos, Velasquez could be sentenced to life in prison if he is found guilty of attempting to kill Goularte.
Goularte was arrested and charged with lewd or lascivious act on a child under the age of 14.
Geragos said that they were trying to run away from the fact that the system failed. They don't want to be involved in that. They would like to try a case that isn't real.
Geragos said that the office is serving two masters by trying both Velasquez and Goularte in the same case.
After following Goularte's truck for 11 miles through the city of San Jose, Velasquez rammed the truck and fired a handgun into it, which carried Goularte, Bender and Goularte. He was hit with a bullet but did not sustain life threatening injuries.
A relative of Velasquez told police that Goularte touched their genitals in the bathroom of a daycare center. The child said Goularte told them not to tell anyone what happened. The child told police that Goularte went into the bathroom with other children.
Goularte's mom owns the daycare. The two denied any wrongdoing. A sexual battery and negligent lawsuit has been filed by the family of Velasquez.
The next court date for Goularte is Sept. 20.
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