A convicted El Dorado County child predator who faked his own death after being allowed to leave court had previously tried to flee the country while wanted on child sex crime charges, according to a federal affidavit.An FBI affidavit says an arrest warrant was issued for Carl Cacconie in 2023 for sex crimes against a child. According to the FBI, Cacconie was arrested “while he was attempting to flee to the Philippines.”The revelation is raising new questions about why El Dorado County Judge Michael McLaughlin allowed Cacconie to leave court in July on the same day a jury convicted him of six felony sex crimes against a child. | PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Victim says it’s ‘absolutely insane’: Convicted child predator who faked death captured in ArizonaCacconie was supposed to return to a South Lake Tahoe courtroom a month later to learn his sentence, which could be up to 18 years in prison. Instead, authorities say he vanished, cut off his ankle monitor and left behind a suicide note.Two retired judges and a State Senator criticized the judge for not taking Cacconie into custody the day of his guilty verdicts. After a KCRA 3 investigation into this case aired in May, the FBI secured a federal warrant for Cacconie. Federal agents arrested him over the weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona.He is now booked into the Maricopa County jail. It is not yet clear when he will be returned to Northern California to be sentenced. The victim’s family has filed a complaint against Judge McLaughlin with the California Commission on Judicial Performance.In the complaint, the family wrote, “Victims and the public rely upon the courts not only to adjudicate guilt, but also to reasonably safeguard the integrity of the criminal process after conviction. When a court formally recognizes the severity, sophistication, and predatory nature of crimes, yet simultaneously allows the convicted offender to remain free despite substantial incentive to flee, it raises serious concerns regarding judicial judgment and the administration of justice.”A spokesperson for Judge McLaughlin said the judicial code bars him from commenting on the case.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A convicted El Dorado County child predator who faked his own death after being allowed to leave court had previously tried to flee the country while wanted on child sex crime charges, according to a federal affidavit.
An FBI affidavit says an arrest warrant was issued for Carl Cacconie in 2023 for sex crimes against a child. According to the FBI, Cacconie was arrested “while he was attempting to flee to the Philippines.”
The revelation is raising new questions about why El Dorado County Judge Michael McLaughlin allowed Cacconie to leave court in July on the same day a jury convicted him of six felony sex crimes against a child.
| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Victim says it’s ‘absolutely insane’: Convicted child predator who faked death captured in Arizona
Cacconie was supposed to return to a South Lake Tahoe courtroom a month later to learn his sentence, which could be up to 18 years in prison. Instead, authorities say he vanished, cut off his ankle monitor and left behind a suicide note.
Two retired judges and a State Senator criticized the judge for not taking Cacconie into custody the day of his guilty verdicts. After a KCRA 3 investigation into this case aired in May, the FBI secured a federal warrant for Cacconie.
Federal agents arrested him over the weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona.
He is now booked into the Maricopa County jail. It is not yet clear when he will be returned to Northern California to be sentenced.
The victim’s family has filed a complaint against Judge McLaughlin with the California Commission on Judicial Performance.
In the complaint, the family wrote, “Victims and the public rely upon the courts not only to adjudicate guilt, but also to reasonably safeguard the integrity of the criminal process after conviction. When a court formally recognizes the severity, sophistication, and predatory nature of crimes, yet simultaneously allows the convicted offender to remain free despite substantial incentive to flee, it raises serious concerns regarding judicial judgment and the administration of justice.”
A spokesperson for Judge McLaughlin said the judicial code bars him from commenting on the case.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
