California Serial Child Molester Granted Elderly Parole, Prompting Reform Push
California’s parole board has granted release to Gregory Vogelsang, a 57‑year‑old serial child molester serving a 355‑year sentence for abusing at least six boys ages 5 to 11 in the 1990s, after just 27 years in prison under the state’s Elderly Parole Program. Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and Sheriff Jim Cooper are publicly condemning the decision, noting that a state risk assessment rated Vogelsang’s likelihood of reoffending as “above average” and that he admitted at his hearing to still struggling with sexual fantasies about children. The case has spurred state Assemblyman Tom Lackey and other lawmakers to begin drafting a bill to tighten or limit elderly parole eligibility for serious sex offenders. Critics argue the unelected parole panel is endangering public safety by releasing high‑risk child predators, while Gov. Gavin Newsom opposed the parole but lacks direct power to overturn it, exposing a gap between sentencing, executive authority, and the current parole regime. The controversy follows similar outrage over another serial child sex offender, David Allen Funston, who was recently cleared for release under the same program, amplifying calls online and in Sacramento for structural changes to California’s parole laws.
📌 Key Facts
- Gregory Vogelsang, 57, convicted of molesting six boys ages 5–11 in the 1990s, received a 355‑year sentence but was granted parole after about 27 years in prison.
- He qualified under California’s Elderly Parole Program, which provides specialized hearings for inmates age 50 or older who have served at least 20 consecutive years.
- A state risk assessment rated Vogelsang’s risk of future offenses as “above average,” and at his hearing he discussed needing to stop masturbating to images of children, according to DA Thien Ho.
- Sacramento County DA Thien Ho, Sheriff Jim Cooper, and Assemblyman Tom Lackey are demanding reforms, with Lackey preparing legislation to curb elderly parole for offenders like Vogelsang.
- The case comes shortly after another serial child sex offender, David Allen Funston, was also granted parole under the elderly program, heightening scrutiny of California’s parole board.
📊 Relevant Data
The three-year conviction rate for the 221 individuals released through California's Elderly Parole Program in fiscal year 2019-20 is 1.8 percent.
Recidivism Rates for Individuals Released Through Board of Parole Hearings Processes in Fiscal Year 2019-20 — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Research has consistently found that the risk for sexual recidivism drops as men convicted of a sexual offense age, with older offenders showing lower rates compared to younger ones.
Does Being Over 60 Years Old at Index Offense Impact Sexual Recidivism? A Meta-Analysis — Sage Journals
In federal sexual abuse cases for fiscal year 2021, offenders were 57.5% White, 16.1% Black, 12.1% Hispanic, 11.4% Native American, and 2.9% other races, compared to U.S. population percentages of approximately 59% White, 13.4% Black, 18.9% Hispanic, and 1.3% Native American, indicating per capita overrepresentation for Black (1.2 times) and Native American (8.8 times) groups.
Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses — United States Sentencing Commission
Older federal offenders (age 60 and over) had a recidivism rate of 13.4% compared to 67.6% for those under 30, with the rate decreasing substantially with age across all offender groups.
The Effects of Aging on Recidivism Among Federal Offenders — United States Sentencing Commission
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