A Child Predator Sentenced to 355 Years Could Walk Free
- Media
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Last year, I asked you to join me in fighting back against one of the most dangerous loopholes in California law. Thousands of you did. You emailed the parole board. You made your voices heard.
Now I need you to do it again.
Gregory Vogelsang kidnapped and molested five young children. One was just three years old. A jury convicted him on 23 counts of forcible lewd acts on young boys. A judge sentenced him to 355 years to life in prison.
355 years. That sentence was supposed to mean something.
But California's parole board has granted him parole. Under our state's elder parole law, even the most violent sexual predators can become eligible for release simply because they turned 50 and served 20 years. That is not justice. That is a loophole that puts your family at risk.
And this is not some abstract policy debate. It is happening right now, right here.
Last year, a North County babysitter named Brittney Mae Lyon was sentenced to 100 years to life for the horrific abuse of young girls entrusted to her care. Children as young as three. Some with autism. One who was nonverbal. Hundreds of videos documented the abuse. Families who trusted her will carry those scars forever.
Under current law, predators like Lyon could one day petition for release simply because of their age. That is unacceptable.
That is why I brought forward legislation last year before the Board of Supervisors to support Senate Bill 286 and Assembly Bill 47, two critical state bills that would permanently exclude violent sex offenders from early release under the elder parole program.
But right now, today, we have a more immediate fight.
The parole board has until March 18th to reverse its decision on Vogelsang. They need to hear from you.
Email the Board of Parole Hearings and tell them Gregory Vogelsang must stay behind bars:
Tell them a 355-year sentence means life. Tell them our children deserve protection. Tell them you will not accept this.
I will never stop fighting to close this loophole. But I cannot do it alone. Your voice made a difference last time. It will make a difference again.
Protecting our children is not a partisan issue. It is a moral one.
Let's make sure the parole board hears us loud and clear.
District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond | March 14, 2026 | San Diego County Board of Supervisors
EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is the Sacramento Sheriff's Press Conference from March 12, 2026. The Parole Board meets this week on March 18, 2026 so send your email quickly to BPH.CorrespondenceUnit@cdcr.ca.gov
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