WHAT HE’S NOW UNCOVERED IN HIS ONGOING KCRA THREE INVESTIGATION. YEAH. CARL CARQUINEZ USED A BAIL BONDS TO PUT UP HIS $1 MILLION BAIL, AND THEY’RE NOW ON THE HOOK TO DELIVER HIM TO THE COURT OR PAY THAT MILLION DOLLARS TO THE COURT. AS KCRA THREE INVESTIGATES UNCOVERED THE VERY DAY A JURY CONVICTED CARL CARQUINEZ IN JULY, THE JUDGE LET THE 51 YEAR OLD WALK OUT OF THE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE COURTROOM ON THAT MILLION DOLLARS BAIL. HE WAS TOLD TO RETURN TO LEARN HIS SENTENCE. A MONTH LATER, IN AUGUST, WHERE HE FACED UP TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON, HE WAS A NO SHOW. TWO RETIRED JUDGES. WE SPOKE WITH THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE AND THE VICTIM AND HER FAMILY ALL BLAMED THAT MAN. YOU JUST SAW, THE EL DORADO COUNTY JUDGE, MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN, SAYING HE SHOULD HAVE ORDERED CARQUINEZ BE CUFFED THE MOMENT HE WAS FOUND GUILTY. HE SHOULD NEVER LET A CHILD PREDATOR OUT EVER AGAIN. I FELT LIKE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM LET US DOWN. AND IT HURTS. WE BELIEVE IN HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, THE JUDGE DID WHAT HE DID. AND NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. HIS FAMILY REPORTED HIM MISSING IN SAN FRANCISCO THE SAME DAY AS THAT SENTENCING HEARING, SAYING HE LEFT A SUICIDE NOTE. BUT THE D.A. SAYS HE HAS REASON TO BELIEVE CARQUINEZ IS VERY MUCH ALIVE. WE’RE ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT HE’S RECEIVING ASSISTANCE AND HAS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER PEOPLE. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN PROVE THAT, WHICH I’M CONFIDENT WE WILL, WE WILL HOLD THEM FULLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE EXTENT OF THE LAW. WELL, TYPICALLY THE COURT ALLOWS THE BAIL BONDS COMPANY SIX MONTHS TO PRODUCE THE DEFENDANT, OR THEY HAVE TO SEND THE COURT THE BAIL AMOUNT, WHICH, AS WE SAID, IS $1 MILLION. IN A COURT FILING, THE BAIL BONDS INVESTIGATOR ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION LISTING ALL OF THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO TRACK DOWN COCO, INCLUDING SURVEILLANCE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, SAYING THEY, TOO ALSO THINK SOMEBODY IS HIDING. THE JUDGE HAS NOW GRANTED THE BAIL BONDS COMPANY THAT EXTENSION TO FIND HIM. AND THERE’S ANOTHER PART TO THIS STORY, CURTIS. RIGHT. I MEAN, YOU REPORTED THAT SOMEBODY ELSE, A WOMAN, TESTIFIED THAT HE ABUSED HER WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL. YEAH. IN FACT, WE FOUND HE WAS ARRESTED BACK IN 2003 IN MADERA COUNTY, ACCUSED OF SEX CRIMES AGAINST THAT SECOND GIRL. NOW, THAT CASE NEVER WENT TO TRIAL. BUT WE’RE TOLD THE GIRL TIED TO THAT CASE DID TESTIFY AT THIS TRIAL AGAINST CARQUINEZ. THE VICTIM’
Bail bonds company searches for missing convicted child predator released after guilty verdicts in El Dorado County
Carl Cacconie, a convicted child predator, disappeared before his sentencing in El Dorado County, leaving a bail bonds company on the hook for $1 million as they work to locate him.
Updated: 7:03 PM PDT May 7, 2026
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A bail bonds company is working to locate Carl Cacconie, a convicted child predator who vanished before his sentencing in El Dorado County, leaving them responsible for the $1 million bail. Cacconie, 51, was convicted in July of child sex crimes and released on a $1 million bond posted by Aladdin Bail Bonds. The judge allowed him to walk free from the South Lake Tahoe courtroom, instructing him to return for sentencing in August, where he faced up to 18 years in prison. He did not appear. Two retired judges, the prosecutor’s office, and the victim’s family have criticized El Dorado County Judge Michael McLaughlin for his decision to release Cacconie after the conviction. “He should never let a child predator out ever again,” the victim said. “I feel like the justice system let us down, and it hurts,” said the victim’s mom Alana Ramirez.El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson told KCRA3, “we believe in holding people accountable for their actions. And, yeah, unfortunately, the judge did what he did, and now we have to deal with the consequences.”On the day of his sentencing hearing, Cacconie’s family reported him missing in San Francisco, saying he left behind a suicide note. However, Pierson said he believes Cacconie is alive. “We’re absolutely confident that he’s receiving assistance and has received assistance from other people. And to the extent that we can prove that, which I’m confident we will, we will hold them accountable to the extent of the law,” Pierson said. Typically, bail bonds companies are given six months to locate a defendant after they skip court or pay the bail amount to the court. In a court filing, an investigator tied to Aladdin Bail Bonds requested an extension, listing their efforts to track Cacconie, including surveillance of his family members, whom they suspect may be hiding him. The judge granted the extension. Cacconie has a history of allegations. He was arrested in 2003 in Madera County for sex crimes against another girl, though that case never went to trial. According to the District Attorney, the girl involved in that case testified against him during his recent trial. The victim’s family expressed concern about the danger Cacconie poses while he remains at large.”As long as he’s out there, he could harm another child,” they said.Previous coverage belowSee 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 bail bonds company is working to locate Carl Cacconie, a convicted child predator who vanished before his sentencing in El Dorado County, leaving them responsible for the $1 million bail.
Cacconie, 51, was convicted in July of child sex crimes and released on a $1 million bond posted by Aladdin Bail Bonds. The judge allowed him to walk free from the South Lake Tahoe courtroom, instructing him to return for sentencing in August, where he faced up to 18 years in prison. He did not appear.
Two retired judges, the prosecutor’s office, and the victim’s family have criticized El Dorado County Judge Michael McLaughlin for his decision to release Cacconie after the conviction.
“He should never let a child predator out ever again,” the victim said. “I feel like the justice system let us down, and it hurts,” said the victim’s mom Alana Ramirez.
El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson told KCRA3, “we believe in holding people accountable for their actions. And, yeah, unfortunately, the judge did what he did, and now we have to deal with the consequences.”
On the day of his sentencing hearing, Cacconie’s family reported him missing in San Francisco, saying he left behind a suicide note. However, Pierson said he believes Cacconie is alive.
“We’re absolutely confident that he’s receiving assistance and has received assistance from other people. And to the extent that we can prove that, which I’m confident we will, we will hold them accountable to the extent of the law,” Pierson said.
Typically, bail bonds companies are given six months to locate a defendant after they skip court or pay the bail amount to the court. In a court filing, an investigator tied to Aladdin Bail Bonds requested an extension, listing their efforts to track Cacconie, including surveillance of his family members, whom they suspect may be hiding him. The judge granted the extension.
Cacconie has a history of allegations. He was arrested in 2003 in Madera County for sex crimes against another girl, though that case never went to trial. According to the District Attorney, the girl involved in that case testified against him during his recent trial.
The victim’s family expressed concern about the danger Cacconie poses while he remains at large.
“As long as he’s out there, he could harm another child,” they said.
Previous coverage below
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
