Overview
- The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed Velasquez left the Soledad facility on Feb. 15 under parole supervision after serving his full sentence as defined by law.
- He was sentenced in March 2025 to five years following a no‑contest plea to charges including attempted murder, and he received 1,283 days of pre‑sentence credit plus additional earned credits in custody.
- The case stemmed from a February 2022, 11‑mile chase in which Velasquez fired at a truck carrying Harry Goularte; a bullet struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, who sustained non‑life‑threatening injuries.
- Related proceedings continue, with a restitution hearing still pending and civil lawsuits filed by both sides moving forward.
- Goularte has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor, with court records showing an April 15 trial‑setting conference, and video showed Velasquez reuniting with family outside the prison.