(CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA) – In a decision that has ignited a firestorm of public outcry, the California Board of Parole Hearings has granted elderly parole to Gregory Vogelsang, a convicted child predator whose crimes horrified the Citrus Heights community in the 1990s.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper and Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, along with partners, broke the news on social media on Thursday, drawing thousands of reactions from a public grappling with the release of a man once sentenced to over three centuries behind bars.
(Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper speaking about Gregory Vogelsang at the press conference. Credit: Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office YouTube video.)
Vogelsang’s original 350-year sentence reflected the predatory nature of his crimes. Between 1995 and 1997, The DA’s office said he systematically groomed families to gain access to at least six boys, ages 5 to 11. His methods were calculated—using sleepovers, gifts, and feigned friendship to bypass parental intuition before violating the children who trusted him. The depravity of his actions was underscored by his own admissions; investigators found victims' clothing in his possession, which he confessed to keeping for sexual stimulation.
Perhaps most alarming to critics of the board's decision are the findings from recent psychological evaluations. As recently as 2020, reports indicated that Vogelsang remains attracted to children in the same age range as his victims and continues to harbor fantasies about them. Despite a risk assessment placing him in a higher-risk category than many other offenders, the board utilized California’s elderly parole law to greenlight his reintegration into society.
This move has prompted a sharp backlash from those who argue that the safety of the most vulnerable members of the community is being sidelined in favor of lenient sentencing policies.
(Image of the convicted predator Gregory Vogelsang, left, and post and comments, right, from Sacramento County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.)
For the families of Citrus Heights and the broader Sacramento area, the decision is seen as a betrayal of public trust. The question remains: how can an individual with such a documented history of grooming and persistent deviant fantasies be deemed a manageable risk to the public?
As the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and its partners continue to scrutinize the parole process, this case stands as a stark example of the tension between restorative justice laws and the permanent scars left by predatory violence.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office is urging the public to take action before the upcoming full-board review hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. There are three main ways for the community to provide public comments:
In-Person Attendance: The hearing will take place at the Board of Parole Hearings office located at 1515 K Street, Suite 550, Sacramento.
Phone Comments: You can add yourself to the speaker list by calling (916) 267-0857 and following the prompts to leave a message or participate in the hearing remotely.
Written Statements: You can submit an email to BPHEXE.BRDMEETING@cdcr.ca.gov. When sending your statement, be sure to identify that you are commenting on Item Number 32: Gregory Vogelsang (P55114).
District Attorney Thien Ho and Sheriff Jim Cooper are specifically calling on citizens to participate to oppose the release, citing Vogelsang's "above average" risk of reoffending and his own admissions of persistent fantasies involving children.
Submit Sacramento County tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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