Protecting Children from Sexual Predators

Media
Aug 22
2 min read

Public safety is the first responsibility of government—and there is no greater duty than protecting our children.

Yet, under California’s current law, even the most violent sexual predators—rapists, child molesters, and kidnappers—can become eligible for parole simply because they’ve turned 50 and served 20 years of their sentence.

That’s not justice. That’s a loophole that puts the public at risk and re-traumatizes victims and their families.

And this is not hypothetical—it’s happening right here in San Diego County. Just this week, a North County babysitter, Brittney Mae Lyon, was sentenced to 100 years to life in prison for the unimaginable abuse of young girls entrusted to her care. Lyon, along with her boyfriend, preyed on children as young as three, some with autism and one who was nonverbal.

Hundreds of videos documented the abuse. Families who trusted her will carry the scars forever. Yet because of California’s current elder parole law, there remains a fear that predators like Lyon could one day petition for release simply because of their age. That is unacceptable.

At our upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting, I’m bringing forward legislation to support two critical state bills that will help close this loophole:

Senate Bill 286 (Mary Bella’s Law), authored by Senator Brian Jones, ensures violent sex offenders—including those who prey on children—are permanently excluded from early release under the elderly parole program.
Assembly Bill 47 strengthens protections by preventing offenders sentenced under the One Strike Law from being eligible for parole before age 60 and before serving at least 25 years.

These reforms are named after survivors like Mary Johnson and Bella Clark, whose abusers were sentenced to hundreds of years in prison—only to see them become parole-eligible decades too soon. Their stories, along with the Lyon case, are heartbreaking reminders of why this loophole must be closed.

I also want to thank District Attorney Summer Stephan for her partnership and tireless work protecting our community and keeping families safe.

Victims deserve justice. Families deserve peace of mind. And our communities deserve to know that the most dangerous predators will never walk free just because of their age.

By supporting SB 286 and AB 47, San Diego County will stand firmly with survivors, strengthen public safety, and ensure the justice system finally reflects the seriousness of these horrific crimes.

I will not stop fighting until this dangerous loophole is closed once and for all.