Lawyers continue to disagree over aspects of what restitution Cain Velasquez will have to pay after his conviction for attempted murder and other charges.
Velasquez was recently released from prison on parole, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have to pay an additional price. On Wednesday, his attorney, Renee Hessling, and attorneys for Harry Goularte and Goularte’s family were in Santa Clara County (Calif.) court before Judge Benjamin Williams.
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While the parties have indicated agreements are possible on certain aspects of restitution, such as physical and property damage, the main dispute has centered around the victims’ claims that a loss of wages should be paid due to the family’s daycare closing.
Several witnesses took the stand to testify and be cross-examined. All were either former attendees of the daycare and/or parents or guardians of children under their care. They testified in support of the Goulartes’ character but were met with blunt questioning from Hessling about their theoretical comfortability with allowing children in a daycare where a man who had molested a child was present.
The proceedings lasted nearly 90 minutes, and no ruling was made by Judge Williams. However, Williams set three upcoming dates. The parties will April 3 submit all uncontested amounts – the portion of restitution they agree on. For the disputed areas, further briefing will need to be submitted by the plaintiffs by April 17. Velasquez’s attorney Hessling will then need to submit a response by May 15. Judge Williams will then have 90 days, starting May 29 to rule on the matter.
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Velasquez pleaded no contest and was sentenced to prison in 2024 after he pursued and shot at a vehicle carrying Goularte, his mother Patricia, and his stepfather Paul Bender. A bullet struck Bender in the arm causing non life-threatening injury. Goularte had been accused of lewd acts with Velasquez’s four-year-old son at a daycare ran by Patricia.
Velasquez was released on parole Feb. 15. Goularte still faces one felony count stemming from the arrest and is currently in the pre-trial phase. He has denied any wrongdoing and is out on bail. There are ongoing civil lawsuits going in both directions.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Cain Velasquez restitution hung up on lost wages issue
