Mounting backlash over California’s elderly parole program drew dozens of people to a Sacramento-area hearing Wednesday, where they urged the state to deny release to a man convicted of child sex crimes in the 1990s.
The case of Gregory Lee Vogelsang, 57, has drawn heightened scrutiny in recent weeks and followed the board’s decision to grant parole to David Allen Funston, 64. Both men — convicted of multiple counts of child molestation and kidnapping decades ago — were deemed suitable for parole last year after becoming eligible under the state’s elderly parole program.
The issue has grown politically charged, with Republican lawmakers citing public outcry to push for stricter parole policies, including replacing the board and revising elderly parole laws. Meanwhile, the board’s executive director said commissioners were following state law and had received threats in recent weeks.
More than 40 people attended Vogelsang’s en banc hearing, where the board heard public testimony before reconsidering his release. The board can uphold, reverse or revisit its prior decision.
The former Roseville resident told commissioners he planned to stay in transitional housing in Fresno, Sacramento or Placer County upon release. He remained in state custody, awaiting release.
Hours after the hearing, the board voted to reconsider the decision, which is known as recission. A decision on Vogelsang’s future could come as early as July, officials said Wednesday afternoon.
Parole board leader calls for civility
At the start of the hearing, Executive Officer Scott Wyckoff encouraged civility and reminded attendees that commissioners were following the law to assess “current dangerousness.”
“While some of these cases are emotionally charged, the nature of the crime does not, in and of itself, provide evidence of current dangerousness in its truest form,” Wyckoff told the group.
“If people want to change the law, the Legislature is the place to do it.”
Wyckoff told The Sacramento Bee commissioners had been threatened via email and on the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Facebook page in recent weeks.
“It’s very disturbing for not only the commissioners, but also for their families.”
The 13 commissioners present did not speak during the hearing. Many sat impassively, some taking notes or watching virtual speakers on their computers.
Victims speak
Vogelsang was convicted in August 1999 of more than two dozen child molestation and kidnapping charges involving five boys in the Sacramento area. Several of the boys were family friends or relatives. He served 27 years of a 355 years-to-life sentence, and was granted parole in November.
During public comment, several people described experiencing sexual abuse as children or spoke on behalf of victims, including Pamela Conley, who identified herself as the mother of one of Vogelsang’s victims.
“It is a lifelong trauma that we have to deal with, and no other children or families should have to deal with this,” she said by phone. “I do not believe he’s rehabilitated, and he will recommit crimes and molest more children if you put him on the streets.”
Sacramento County resident Janene Mayberry said she had seen a post on Facebook about the upcoming hearing, and felt compelled to attend.
Mayberry said she was the foster parent of her 16-year-old granddaughter, who she said was placed in her care after experiencing sexual abuse from a trusted adult.
Mayberry said she was unconcerned about the cost to taxpayers to keep people incarcerated.
“I can tell you what this is costing the system for my grandchildren, right? The foster care is expensive. The counseling that they’re going through is expensive.”
She added that, as a 57-year-old woman, she did not believe people over 50 should be considered elderly.
Legislators call for action
Before the hearing, several Republican state lawmakers rallied with former members of Sacramento law enforcement to protest Vogelsang’s release and to draw attention to efforts to change elderly parole laws.
Members of the public held signs reading “Protect our Kids” and “Keep Predators Behind Bars.”
“These releases that we are seeing in our communities are a choice,” said Assemblymember Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, who represents Citrus Heights, where several boys were molested by Vogelsang.
“They are a policy choice that are putting the interests of criminals over the interests of victims and the interests of public safety.”
The bills legislators proposed include:
- Assembly Bill 2342, by Assemblymember Josh Hoover, which would give the governor the authority to overrule the decision of the parole board in violent felony cases;
- Senate Bill 1278, by Sen. Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, which would exclude people who were convicted for sex crimes involving children from the Elderly Parole Program;
- AB 2570, by Assemblymember Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, which would change the age of eligibility for the Elderly Parole Program from 50 to 65 years old;
- SB 906, by Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones, R-Santee, which would make the votes of the parole board public.
All four bills were likely to face significant opposition from the Legislature’s Democratic members, who rarely support measures that increase incarceration.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 2:51 PM.
Kate Wolffe
The Sacramento Bee
Kate Wolffe covers the California Legislature for The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she reported on health care for Capital Public Radio in Sacramento and daily news for KQED-FM in San Francisco. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley.
