Convicted Pedophile with 300-Year Sentence Freed Under Newsom Law

Gregory Lee Vogelsang admitted his sick desires 'are always going to be there' but was granted early release anyway.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A pedophile who was sentenced to over 300 years in prison for sexually abusing multiple children between the ages of 5 and 11 in the 1990s was granted early release under a controversial law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Gregory Lee Vogelsang, 57, admitted during his parole hearing that his sexual desires for young boys 'are always going to be there', but the three-person parole board still approved his release.

Why it matters

The decision to release Vogelsang has sparked outrage, with critics questioning the wisdom of the 'elderly parole' law that enabled his release despite his heinous crimes and continued sexual attraction to children. The case highlights the ongoing debate around criminal justice reform, public safety, and the treatment of sex offenders.

The details

Vogelsang was convicted of kidnapping and molesting multiple children between the ages of 5 and 11 in the Sacramento area in the 1990s. He was sentenced to 355 years to life in prison. During his parole hearing, Vogelsang admitted that his sexual desires for young boys 'are always going to be there', and he blamed the abuse he faced as a child for his obsession. The three-person parole board still granted him early release under a 2020 law signed by Governor Newsom that allows inmates 50 and older who have served 20 or more years to receive parole consideration.

  • Vogelsang was convicted and sentenced in the 1990s.
  • The parole hearing where Vogelsang made his confession took place in November 2026.
  • Vogelsang's release is pending a final board review on March 18, 2026.

The players

Gregory Lee Vogelsang

A 57-year-old pedophile who was convicted of kidnapping and molesting multiple children between the ages of 5 and 11 in the 1990s in the Sacramento area. He was sentenced to 355 years to life in prison but was granted early release under a controversial law signed by Governor Newsom.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California who signed a law in 2020 that allows inmates 50 and older who have served 20 or more years to receive parole consideration, which enabled the early release of pedophile Gregory Lee Vogelsang.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that denounced Vogelsang's release, calling him a 'sexually violent predator' who is 'headed to a neighborhood near you'.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I got to know what the internal triggers and external triggers and what the risky situations and the warning signs are for pedophilia. And, like I said before, when I don't view a child as a sex object, I don't want to become aroused, but I know it's always going to be there.”

— Gregory Lee Vogelsang (Capital Public Radio)

“The California Board of Parole Hearings is at it again. They have granted early release via the Elderly Parole program to sexually violent predator Gregory Vogelsang, who molested more than five children in Citrus Heights and was sentenced to over 300 years in prison for his crimes. And he is headed to a neighborhood near you.”

— Sacramento County Sheriff's Office (Facebook)

What’s next

The judge will decide on March 18, 2026 whether to allow Vogelsang's release to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around criminal justice reform, public safety, and the treatment of sex offenders. The decision to release Vogelsang, who admitted his sexual desires for children 'are always going to be there', has sparked outrage and raised questions about the wisdom of laws that enable the early release of such dangerous individuals.