Cain Velasquez trial setting date pushed back two months

The trial setting hearing for former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been pushed back.

Velasquez was present in-person Wednesday for a hearing at Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, Calif., during which his lead attorney, Renee Hessling, requested the matter be continued to a later date. Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya granted the request, with a rescheduled date of Wednesday, May 24.

Velasquez, 40, has already pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including attempted murder after he allegedly chased and shot at a vehicle containing three people in February 2022. Velasquez spent over eight months in jail before he was granted bail with stipulations in November.

According to prosecutors, Velasquez targeted Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s then-four-year-old son at a daycare, but shot Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender instead, which caused injury.

Goularte was arrested prior to the alleged shooting and faces one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14. Goularte has pleaded not guilty and will be due back in court for his own trial setting date April 12.

If found guilty of attempted murder, Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison, according to the California penal code.