SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — The fate of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is now in the hands of a Santa Clara County judge.
Last week, Velasquez gave up his right to a jury trial when he pleaded “no contest” to attempted murder and eight additional charges. Prosecutors said the mixed martial arts fighter went on a “vigilante shooting spree” when he tried to kill a suspected child molester in 2022.
Judge Arthur Bocanegra has wide discretion when he decides Velasquez’s punishment and hands down a sentence in October.
Velasquez signed a plea form obtained by KRON4 on Tuesday. The form states, “I understand the maximum sentence for the charges I am pleading guilty or no contest to is a state prison term of 40 years (and) 4 months to life.”
The judge could sentence the UFC star with the maximum punishment, or Bocanegra could let Velasquez go with zero prison time.