Prosecutors in Santa Clara County, California, dubbed Cain Velasquez a would-be “judge, jury, and executioner” and said he still faces prison time after the retired UFC star pleaded no contest on Friday to attempted murder and other charges for engaging in a 100 mph pursuit and shooting at a truck in 2022 in search of the man accused of molesting his then 4-year-old son at a day care.
Velasquez, now 42, had faced possible mandatory life behind bars, albeit with potential parole, if he went forward with a September trial and ended up convicted in the case,
but according the Mercury News, he has avoided both the trial and likely the theoretical worst case scenario given the plea, even though the judge will retain discretion under a negotiated disposition between the state and the defense over whether to dole out probation, a prison sentence, or life, whenever that sentencing proceeding occurs.