A 75-year-old man has been arrested in Sacramento County for allegedly abusing children, raising concerns among critics about a California law that might lead to shorter prison sentences for older sex offenders.
In September 2025, a concerned mother reported to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) that her 13-year-old daughter may have been sexually assaulted by a relative named Larry Candies. Investigators from the Family Justice Center in Modesto spoke with the girl, who revealed that Candies had been abusing her since she was 11.
The sheriff’s office discovered that there were prior complaints against Candies by reviewing records from Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Stockton Police Department. They interviewed the alleged victim and two relatives, one of whom indicated he had also been abused by Candies from ages 8 to 13 in the 1980s.
SCSO Sergeant Edward Igoe noted that the abuse had gone undetected for many years. “There were unreported sexual assaults dating back to the 1980s,” he mentioned.
He expressed concerns about how predators often extend their abuse beyond family boundaries, noting, “Many of these monsters will sacrifice family members and relatives.” He pointed out that often, additional victims come into play when relatives spend the night away from home.
California’s Elderly Parole Program allows inmates aged 50 and older, who have been incarcerated for at least 20 years, to apply for parole. A previous federal court ruling also established a process for older inmates, particularly those who have been incarcerated for 25 years or more.
Igoe challenged the notion that age diminishes the risk posed by sex offenders. “Even if you are sentenced to centuries in prison, it will provide you with an opportunity for parole,” he stated, emphasizing that the case illustrates how someone over 75 can still pose a significant threat to children.
Candies has been charged with eight counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and is currently detained at Sacramento County Main Jail, with bail set at $1 million.
