Cain Velasquez petition for writ of habeas corpus denied by California appellate court

An appeal filed by the legal team of incarcerated former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been denied.

The Sixth Appellate Court of California denied a petition for writ of habeas corpus in an order issued Wednesday, according to a court record obtained by MMA Junkie.

The 246-page request, which challenged past rulings of Santa Clara County Judge Shelyna Brown denying Velasquez bail, was denied summarily, meaning without explanation.

Velasquez’s lead attorney Mark Geragos did not immediately respond to MMA Junkie’s request for comment.

Facing a handful of charges, including attempted murder, Velasquez is set for a pre-trial hearing Nov. 7 in San Jose, Calif. His alleged shooting target, accused child molester Harry Goularte, will have a pre-trial hearing of his own Nov. 14. Goularte faces one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor, allegedly Velasquez’s 4-year-old son.

Velasquez, 40, faces 20 years to life in prison if found guilty. Goularte, who is currently out on bail, faces up to eight years if found guilty. Both Velasquez and Goularte have pleaded not guilty.

A civil lawsuit filed by the Velasquez family against the Goularte family is in the preliminary stages with the next hearing scheduled for March 2023.