Lead
Former UFC heavyweight titleholder Cain Velasquez was released on parole from a California state prison on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, his longtime agent confirmed to ESPN. Velasquez, 43, had been serving a five-year sentence imposed in March 2025 after pleading no contest in a shooting related to an incident from February 2022. At sentencing the court credited him with 1,283 days of time served; he spent roughly 11 months in custody after the March 2025 ruling before being paroled. The case, which intersected criminal proceedings and public debate about vigilante responses to alleged child abuse, remains the subject of ongoing civil litigation.
Key takeaways
- Release date: Cain Velasquez was paroled on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, according to his agent Mike Fonseca and ESPN reporting.
- Sentence and credit: Velasquez received a five-year prison term in March 2025 and was credited with 1,283 days already served at sentencing.
- Incident details: The charges stem from a February 2022 episode in which Velasquez chased and shot at a vehicle linked to Harry Goularte; Goularte’s father was struck and injured during the 11-mile pursuit.
- Pretrial status: Velasquez was granted $1 million bail and placed on house arrest in November 2022 before his March 2025 sentencing.
- Civil and criminal parallel cases: Goularte faces a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor, and Velasquez has filed a separate civil suit against him.
- Career context: Velasquez won the undisputed UFC heavyweight title by knocking out Brock Lesnar in October 2010 and retired from mixed martial arts in 2019.
- Institutional support: The UFC publicly backed Velasquez during the legal process, including a court letter from CEO Dana White.
Background
The episode that led to Velasquez’s prosecution began in February 2022 when his young son was allegedly a victim of sexual abuse; prosecutors subsequently charged Harry Goularte with lewd acts with a minor. The alleged perpetrator and his father were driving in a vehicle when Velasquez pursued them, an 11-mile chase that ended with shots fired and the elder Goularte sustaining an injury.
After his initial arrest, Velasquez posted $1 million bail and was put on house arrest in November 2022. The case evolved into parallel tracks: criminal charges against Velasquez for the shooting and a criminal prosecution of Goularte for the alleged abuse, alongside civil litigation initiated by Velasquez. The episode reverberated beyond the courts, prompting public discussion about how victims’ families, bystanders and public figures respond when alleged crimes involve children.
Main event
In March 2025, Velasquez entered a no-contest plea to charges related to the February 2022 shooting and was sentenced to five years in state prison. At that hearing the judge applied 1,283 days of custody credit, reflecting pretrial detention and other credited custody, a calculation frequently used to account for time already spent under arrest or supervision.
Following sentencing, Velasquez served additional time in custody—reported as about 11 months—before being released on parole in mid-February 2026. His release was confirmed to ESPN by Mike Fonseca, the agent who has represented him for many years. The parole decision ends the immediate period of incarceration but leaves ongoing legal and civil matters unresolved.
The original shooting incident involved a prolonged pursuit and exchanges of gunfire; prosecutors said Velasquez chased the vehicle containing Goularte and his father, repeatedly firing at the car. The father was struck and treated for injuries. Goularte remains formally charged with lewd acts with a minor and is still facing criminal proceedings separate from Velasquez’s case.
Analysis & implications
The case sits at the intersection of criminal justice, victim advocacy and the special scrutiny that high-profile athletes attract. Velasquez’s status as a former UFC champion amplified media attention and prompted public debate about the boundaries between lawful enforcement and personal retribution. Courts typically separate the inquiry into alleged abuse from a defendant’s response to that abuse; here both strands moved through the system concurrently.
Legally, the no-contest plea and the 1,283 days of custody credit were decisive to the sentencing calculus. Time-served credits can substantially shorten the custodial portion of a sentence; parole boards then evaluate release under statutory rules and supervisory conditions. Velasquez’s parole means supervisory oversight rather than unconditional freedom, and it may entail restrictions on travel, weapons possession and other activities while civil litigation proceeds.
For the UFC and the wider combat-sports world, the episode poses reputational and policy questions. The organization and its leadership publicly supported Velasquez during his case, which some view as defending a member of their community and others see as premature advocacy before legal processes concluded. Prominent support letters to courts are not uncommon for public figures, but they can shape public perception of fairness and influence sentiment around athlete conduct.
Comparison & data
| Key date/event | Detail |
|---|---|
| February 2022 | Shooting and 11-mile chase involving vehicle tied to Harry Goularte |
| November 2022 | Velasquez granted $1 million bail and placed on house arrest |
| March 2025 | No-contest plea; five-year sentence with 1,283 days credited |
| Feb. 15, 2026 | Released on parole after roughly 11 additional months in custody |
This timeline clarifies how pre-sentencing custody credit and post-sentencing custody combined in Velasquez’s case. Crediting already-served custody (1,283 days) reduced the remaining custodial burden imposed at sentencing; parole completes the immediate custodial episode but does not resolve pending civil suits or the separate criminal case against Goularte.
Reactions & quotes
“He was released on parole,”
Mike Fonseca, long-time agent (confirmation to ESPN)
Fonseca’s confirmation to ESPN provided the first public notice of Velasquez’s parole. The agent has been a frequent spokesperson in Velasquez’s public affairs for years, and his statement framed the development as an end to the latest custodial chapter.
“A model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself,”
Dana White, UFC CEO (letter to court)
The UFC’s CEO submitted a letter to the court during the legal process praising Velasquez’s character. That letter became part of the public record and exemplified institutional support, a move that drew both endorsement from fans and scrutiny from critics wary of powerful figures intervening in judicial matters.
Unconfirmed
- Specific parole conditions and their duration have not been publicly disclosed; terms such as travel limitations or firearm prohibitions are likely but unconfirmed.
- Velasquez’s plans regarding public appearances, potential appeals, or next legal steps in his civil suit were not announced at the time of reporting and remain unclear.
Bottom line
Cain Velasquez’s parole closes the most immediate chapter of a high-profile legal saga that began with allegations of child sexual abuse and escalated to a violent, public confrontation. The March 2025 sentence, the sizeable pre-sentence custody credit and the roughly 11 months of post-sentencing custody combined to shape the timeline that ended with his release on Feb. 15, 2026.
While parole ends active incarceration for now, multiple legal threads remain: the criminal charge against Harry Goularte, Velasquez’s civil case, and any parole supervision terms that could affect his daily life. Observers should watch how the civil litigation and Goularte’s prosecution proceed, as those outcomes will determine longer-term legal and reputational consequences for all parties.
Sources
- ESPN (sports media report)