Sacramento County DA

The purpose of the Sacramento County District Attorney's X page is to keep the public informed about what the office is doing both in the courtroom and in the community, provide the latest office news and information about programs and events/activities. sacda.org/.../03/Social-…

District Attorney Thien Ho Provides Update on Gregory Volgesang Case @sacsheriff

DA Thien Ho Alerts the Public of a Mental Health Diversion Defendant Arrested for Murder Another defendant on Mental Health Diversion (MHD) has been arrested for a violent crime while in the program.  Defendant Willie King, a violent offender, will be arraigned on the charge of murder tomorrow, March 19. On March 12, 2026, Sacramento police responded to a report of a shooting and located a male victim with a gunshot wound to his neck.  The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene.  Sacramento police identified the shooter as Willie King.  After a vehicle pursuit and a standoff with SWAT, a K-9 was deployed and King was taken into custody. King had just received a satisfactory MHD progress report before the shooting. This case exemplifies exactly what AB 46 is designed to fix - to prevent violent defendants like this from being eligible for MHD.

"I want to personally thank our community for the overwhelming response to our call to action to oppose the elder parole of child molester Gregory Vogelsang. Hundreds of you showed up, emailed, and called the Board of Parole—you put people before predators, public safety above politics and children before criminals who preyed upon the most vulnerable.”  - Thien Ho, Sacramento County District Attorney

Today we recognize the social workers who support, advocate, and uplift our community every day. A special thank you to our victim advocates who stand beside survivors every day, guiding and supporting them throughout their journey toward justice. Your compassion strengthens the pursuit of justice — and we are grateful for all that you do.

It’s a great day for California! AB 46 passed Senate Public Safety with a decisive 5-0 vote, moving it closer to becoming law. Our office is proud to co‑sponsor this bill, and we thank Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen for her leadership in strengthening public safety while supporting Mental Health Diversion for those who truly need it.

Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen Introduces AB 2727 to Reform Elderly Parole Eligibility for Violent Sexual Offenses Click here for full press release: bit.ly/4sbrILb Sacramento, CA — Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen has introduced AB 2727, co-sponsored by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, to reform California’s elderly parole program following recent cases that have raised concerns about how the law applies to individuals convicted of violent sexual offenses against children. AB 2727 permanently excludes individuals convicted of the most serious sexual offenses from eligibility for elderly parole, including: • Aggravated sexual assault of a child • Forcible lewd acts on a child • Sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years old or younger • One Strike sexual offenses involving multiple victims For other aggravated sexual offenses, the bill establishes a higher eligibility threshold so parole may only be considered if an individual is at least 75 years old and has served a minimum of 30 years in prison. Under current law, incarcerated individuals may qualify for elderly parole after reaching 50 years of age and serving 20 years. “When someone commits violent sexual crimes, especially against children, the consequences must reflect the seriousness of that harm,” said Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen. “AB 2727 ensures that individuals convicted of the most serious sexual offenses are not eligible for elderly parole and that others face a much higher threshold before they can be considered for release.” “I refuse to accept a reality in which the heinousness of the crime no longer matters, and the victims no longer matter,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Not every crime and not every criminal is the same and we cannot continue to allow our criminal justice system to be a one-size-fits-all system that erases accountability and ignores the victims.” “Recent changes to elder parole laws break our promise to victims and endanger our most vulnerable—our children,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. “AB 2727 is an important step toward preventing dangerous inmates from receiving unearned and undeserved early prison release -our community deserves better.” AB 2727 will be considered during the 2026 legislative session. @AsmNguyen @SacCountyDA

LAST CALL! Today is the final day to apply for our citizens academy!

ELDERLY PAROLE GRANTED TO CONVICTED CHILD MOLESTER GREGORY VOGELSANG The California Board of Parole Hearings has granted elderly parole to 57‑year‑old Gregory Vogelsang, a sexually violent predator who was sentenced to over 350 years in prison for crimes committed against children in Citrus Heights. Between 1995 and 1997, Vogelsang molested at least six boys between the ages of 5 and 11. Investigators determined he used grooming tactics to gain access to children by building trust with parents, inviting boys to sleepovers, buying them gifts, and taking them on outings before abusing that trust. In one case, a child reported Vogelsang persuaded him to get into his vehicle under the pretense of helping pick out a gift. The child was driven to a residence and repeatedly assaulted despite crying and asking him to stop. Another victim spent the night at Vogelsang’s home nearly every weekend for years because he was friends with Vogelsang’s family. During those visits, the abuse occurred repeatedly over an extended period of time. During the investigation, deputies located boys’ underwear in Vogelsang’s possession. He admitted they belonged to his victims and stated he kept them for sexual stimulation. Psychological evaluations later documented that Vogelsang acknowledged he remains primarily sexually attracted to boys between the ages of 5 and 11. He also admitted that as recently as 2020 he was still masturbating to fantasies about young boys. Even after determining that he was a greater risk to the public than 80% of other sexual offenders, the Board of Parole Hearings granted Vogelsang elderly parole. Watch the full press conference for additional details.

Sacramento County DA Thien Ho Urges the California Legislature to Pass AB 46 The California Senate Public Safety Committee took a significant step in restoring balance in the justice system by advancing Assembly Bill 46. Authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, AB 46 would restore judicial discretion and give prosecutors a voice within the state’s Mental Health Diversion (MHD) program. “I commend the California Senate Public Safety Committee for its thoughtful review of AB 46 and for advancing this critical public safety and mental health legislation,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. “I am also grateful to Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen for authoring AB 46 and working closely with criminal justice and community organizations to balance mental‑health diversion laws by ensuring we provide treatment to those who need it while maintaining the safety of our communities.” Read more: sacda.org/2026/03/sacram…

DA Thien Ho and Sheriff Jim Cooper held a press briefing to alert our community of another child sexual predators who has been granted early prison release under the guise of “elder” parole. Gregory Vogelsang is another inmate who received a 355 to LIFE sentence, who was never intended to be out in society again, that was granted early release. In the mid-1990s, he molested five boys who were only 5 to 11 years old. There is an En Banc hearing scheduled to review this decision on March 18, 2026, at 9:00AM, and citizens can voice their opinion to the Board of Parole. You have several options to make your voice heard. You can attend in person at 1515 K Street, Suite 550 in Sacramento. You can make a public comment over the phone by adding yourself to the speaker list by phone 916-267-0857 and follow the prompts. Or you can submit a written statement to BPHEXE.BRDMEETING@cdcr.ca.gov and identify you are submitting a statement on item number 32 Gregory Vogelsang (P55114). @sacsheriff

Don’t forget to register for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office 10-week Citizens Academy, presented in partnership with the Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County Probation Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

🚨 Only 3 days left to apply for our Citizens Academy! Join us for a 10-week deep dive into public safety, featuring guest speakers, ride-alongs, and a DA Crime Lab tour. Apply before the deadline!

Attention all law students! Please join us at our annual Diversity Reception at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, March 18th from 4pm-6pm. This is a great opportunity to mingle with prosecutors, explore a career in prosecution and learn about employment opportunities in our office! Please RSVP using following link: forms.office.com/g/QpunP1aFr9 @usflaw @UCDavisLaw @PacificMcGeorge @HastingsCollege

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, along with other local officials, gathered on Monday to announce the formation of a task force created to battle mail theft in the area. fox40.com/news/sacrament…

🚨 REMINDER! Now Accepting Applications! 🚨 Citizens Academy 2026 Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in public safety and the justice system? Our annual Citizens Academy is your opportunity to learn, connect, and gain firsthand insight into the work being done to serve and protect our community. Participants will engage with professionals, explore real-world processes, and build a deeper understanding of how our system works — all in an interactive and informative environment. ✅ Applicants must be 18 years or older ⏳ Space is limited, so be sure to apply early 📅 Registration is open now through March 13th 👉 Apply today sacda.org/in-the-communi… We look forward to welcoming this year’s class and continuing to strengthen partnerships with the community we serve. @SacCoProbation @SacPolice @sacsheriff

On Monday, District Attorney Thien Ho was joined by Congressman Ami Bera, Sacramento Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, Sacramento Councilman Eric Guerra, Assistant Inspector in Charge of U.S. Postal Inspection Service's San Francisco Division Mark Hodges and Rancho Cordova Police Chief Shaun Hampton at a press conference to announce a new Sacramento Mail Theft Task Force. With the creation of this Task Force, we are sending a clear message. Steal Mail? Go Straight to Jail. For more information, please visit sacda.org/in-the.../mail… @USPS @CM_LisaKaplan

Defendant Sentenced for Murder After Being Found Sane The Honorable Shelleyanne Chang sentenced Christian Pedraza to 16 years to life in prison. On November 15, 2024, Pedraza was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder. The jury also found true that Pedraza personally used a knife. Read more: sacda.org/2026/02/defend… @RanchoCordovaPD

The Sacramento County DA's office announced that the CDCR is recommending the early release of a man convicted of a brutal knife attack on girlfriend. Here's what officials said: fox40.com/news/local-new…