A Sacramento parole board hearing sparks heated debate over the potential release of Gregory Vogelsang, convicted of crimes against children in the late 90s.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — A parole board hearing on Wednesday in Sacramento reviewed the potential release of Gregory Vogelsang, a convicted sexually violent predator sentenced to more than 350 years in prison for crimes against children in Citrus Heights.
The hearing comes as local leaders, law enforcement, and community members gathered outside the California Department of Rehabilitation building for a rally opposing his release.
Vogelsang, 57, was previously granted elderly parole, a decision that is now under review by the Board of Parole Hearings.
Assemblymember Josh Hoover, whose district includes Citrus Heights, is among those pushing to stop Vogelsang’s release and calling for changes to California’s elderly parole system. His concerns come shortly after another convicted child molester in Placer County, David Allen Funston, was granted elderly parole before later facing new charges.
“We need to rally together to oppose the release of someone that will make our community less safe, but more importantly, we need to let the lawmakers in California and the governor know that this is unacceptable. We cannot allow individuals that have been sentenced to 355 years to life, which is the case for Gregory Vogel saying or David Funston, who was sentenced to three life terms in prison,” Asm. Hoover said.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper also weighed in ahead of the hearing, criticizing the parole process in a post on X.
“The decision is no longer made in a courtroom. It is made by the Board of Parole Hearings. This is an appointed board. They are not elected, not accountable to the public, and they were not involved in investigating or trying these cases. Yet they can override the outcome of a sentence,” Sheriff Cooper said.
At the rally, speakers including state leaders, law enforcement officials, and victims of sexual crimes voiced strong opposition to Vogelsang’s potential release, calling for both a denial of parole and broader legal changes.
Former Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said the issue goes beyond politics and centers on public safety and justice for victims.
“I asked the parole board today to do the right thing and rescind this grant of parole and I ask our legislature and our governor to step up and do what’s best for our citizens rather than criminals,” Schubert said.
During the hearing, Board of Parole Hearings Executive Director Scott Wyckoff addressed the broader process, saying that while cases like this can be emotionally charged, decisions must be based on current risk.
He said the nature of the crime alone does not necessarily demonstrate current dangerousness, and emphasized that any changes to the law must come from the legislature. Wyckoff also denounced attacks on public servants tasked with applying existing law.
The case has also drawn debate beyond law enforcement and elected officials. Some criminal justice advocates argue California’s elderly parole program is effective, pointing to recidivism data, while others continue to call for reforms.
WATCH ALSO: Sacramento County law enforcement is again criticizing the elderly parole process
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