A man from California, Israel Ceja, 63, who sexually assaulted and impregnated his minor stepdaughter, is set for a potential early release due to a contentious law endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Ceja, currently at San Quentin State Prison, could benefit from the Elderly Parole Act, which facilitates the release of older inmates. This situation has drawn criticism from law enforcement across California, particularly as Ceja is just one of several elderly offenders released under a law enacted in 2020.
A panel recommended his early release in January, which the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office endorsed as well. A letter was sent to Governor Newsom recently, urging him to reconsider this recommendation.
According to Yolo County Attorney Jeff Reisig, Ceja began abusing his stepdaughter shortly after marrying her mother in 1993 when she was just 11 years old. This disturbing pattern of abuse continued for years until 1999 when she fainted in public and was found to be pregnant, ultimately confirming Ceja as the biological father through DNA testing.
Reisig noted that Ceja even attempted to force a miscarriage by instructing the young girl to jump from their home.
In a strong letter to Newsom, Reisig insisted that the governor should use his authority to block Ceja’s release, highlighting that the recommendation for early parole for someone with such a record simply does not make sense.
“California should not be a sanctuary for child rapists,” Reisig stated emphatically.
Additionally, records show that in July 1999, Ceja threatened a girl with a gun, accusing her of infidelity, but fortunately, the weapon did not discharge, allowing her to escape.
In 2000, Ceja was convicted by a Yolo County jury of multiple offenses, including forcible rape and child endangerment, receiving a 139-year sentence.
When the parole board reviewed Ceja’s case, they shockingly described him as an “outstanding citizen,” citing his supposed genuine plans for rehabilitation and claiming he wouldn’t pose a risk to society.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, responsible for the parole board, has kept silent on its recommendations for Ceja’s release.
Under Newsom’s Elderly Parole Act, individuals aged 50 or older with at least 20 years served—or those who are 60 with over 25 years—can apply for early parole, excluding death sentences or life without parole.
Newsom made modifications to the original law in 2021, making it easier for inmates to apply for parole as early as 50 years old after just 20 years of service, aiming to alleviate prison overcrowding. However, this has incited widespread anger, especially concerning the release of violent offenders, including child rapists.
A whistleblower in San Francisco recently raised concerns about insufficient supervision of parolees, indicating that public safety may be at risk due to lax oversight.
In a further alarming example, inmate Gregory Lee Vogelsang, who was sentenced to 355 years for abusing multiple children in the 1990s, is facing a final review for early release.
Meanwhile, David Allen Funston, a notorious Sacramento County predator, was recently granted parole, only to be charged with new offenses just hours before his imminent release.
Currently, Ceja remains incarcerated at San Quentin as the parole board awaits the governor’s decision, a process that typically lasts around 120 days.
A spokesperson for Newsom reiterated that no decision regarding Ceja’s case has been made and that further comments cannot be offered while the matter is still under review.
