Topline: Carl Cacconie’s release on bail leaves the victim’s family devastated.
Published: May 9, 2026 6:00 am ET
Must Read
Carl Cacconie (via El Dorado County District Attorney)
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — A man convicted of six counts of lewd acts on a child is a fugitive after an El Dorado County judge allowed him to remain free on bail before his sentencing.
Carl Cacconie, 53, disappeared before his Aug. 25, 2025, sentencing hearing where he faced 18 years in prison. As reported by KCRA, Cacconie was found guilty on July 17, 2025, after a trial at the courthouse in South Lake Tahoe.
Despite the guilty verdicts, Judge Michael McLaughlin allowed Cacconie to leave the courthouse. El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said his office asked the judge to take Cacconie into custody immediately after the jury reached its decision.
Pierson said a person convicted of multiple acts against a child should have been remanded. The prosecutor said the $1 million bond Cacconie posted may have become a price for his freedom.
The victim, now an adult, was 11 at the time of the abuse. She said the guilty verdict provided a sense of relief and felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She and her mother, Alana Ramirez, now say they live in fear that Cacconie will return. Ramirez said the justice system failed them and questioned why a convicted felon was permitted to walk free.
Judge McLaughlin has declined to comment. The court cited the California Code of Judicial Ethics, which prevents judges from discussing pending cases.
Retired legal experts have criticized the decision to grant the release. As reported by KCRA, retired Sacramento County Judge Maryanne Gilliard said the man was a danger to society and should have been jailed immediately.
A second retired judge characterized the decision as an exercise of poor judgment. The judge noted that serious felony convictions warrant detention even when high bail is involved.
Cacconie was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of his disappearance. A report from the El Dorado County Probation Department stated the device lost its connection and location on Aug. 17, 2025.
The device was last tracked to an address in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Probation records indicate that officials did not contact Cacconie for two days after the signal was lost.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Cacconie told probation officers he was charging the device. The department was unable to reach him again and never recovered the equipment.
The last contact between the department and Cacconie occurred six days before he was due in court. A bench warrant is now active for his arrest.
On the day of the sentencing, Cacconie’s family reported him missing to San Francisco police. They claimed he left a suicide note.
Defense attorney Chris Walsh said he believes his client is dead, as per KCRA. Walsh noted that Cacconie had a history of appearing for every court date prior to the disappearance.
Pierson said he is confident the convict is alive. As reported by KMPH, the district attorney warned that any person helping Cacconie avoid authorities could face charges.
The victim’s family said they will believe Cacconie is alive until a body is found. They are advocating for changes to the law that would require judges to detain individuals convicted of child sex crimes immediately.
Local authorities are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the fugitive to contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors said the search remains active.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Convicted Child Predator Vanishes After Judge’s Release Before Sentencing
Carl Cacconie’s release on bail leaves the victim’s family devastated.
By Kate Byrd
Published: May 9, 2026 6:00 am ET
Carl Cacconie (via El Dorado County District Attorney)
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — A man convicted of six counts of lewd acts on a child is a fugitive after an El Dorado County judge allowed him to remain free on bail before his sentencing.
Carl Cacconie, 53, disappeared before his Aug. 25, 2025, sentencing hearing where he faced 18 years in prison. As reported by KCRA, Cacconie was found guilty on July 17, 2025, after a trial at the courthouse in South Lake Tahoe.
Despite the guilty verdicts, Judge Michael McLaughlin allowed Cacconie to leave the courthouse. El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said his office asked the judge to take Cacconie into custody immediately after the jury reached its decision.
Pierson said a person convicted of multiple acts against a child should have been remanded. The prosecutor said the $1 million bond Cacconie posted may have become a price for his freedom.
The victim, now an adult, was 11 at the time of the abuse. She said the guilty verdict provided a sense of relief and felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She and her mother, Alana Ramirez, now say they live in fear that Cacconie will return. Ramirez said the justice system failed them and questioned why a convicted felon was permitted to walk free.
Judge McLaughlin has declined to comment. The court cited the California Code of Judicial Ethics, which prevents judges from discussing pending cases.
Retired legal experts have criticized the decision to grant the release. As reported by KCRA, retired Sacramento County Judge Maryanne Gilliard said the man was a danger to society and should have been jailed immediately.
A second retired judge characterized the decision as an exercise of poor judgment. The judge noted that serious felony convictions warrant detention even when high bail is involved.
Cacconie was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of his disappearance. A report from the El Dorado County Probation Department stated the device lost its connection and location on Aug. 17, 2025.
The device was last tracked to an address in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Probation records indicate that officials did not contact Cacconie for two days after the signal was lost.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Cacconie told probation officers he was charging the device. The department was unable to reach him again and never recovered the equipment.
The last contact between the department and Cacconie occurred six days before he was due in court. A bench warrant is now active for his arrest.
On the day of the sentencing, Cacconie’s family reported him missing to San Francisco police. They claimed he left a suicide note.
Defense attorney Chris Walsh said he believes his client is dead, as per KCRA. Walsh noted that Cacconie had a history of appearing for every court date prior to the disappearance.
Pierson said he is confident the convict is alive. As reported by KMPH, the district attorney warned that any person helping Cacconie avoid authorities could face charges.
The victim’s family said they will believe Cacconie is alive until a body is found. They are advocating for changes to the law that would require judges to detain individuals convicted of child sex crimes immediately.
Local authorities are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the fugitive to contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors said the search remains active.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Convicted Child Predator Vanishes After Judge’s Release Before Sentencing
Carl Cacconie’s release on bail leaves the victim’s family devastated.
By Kate Byrd
Published: May 9, 2026 6:00 am ET
Carl Cacconie (via El Dorado County District Attorney)
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — A man convicted of six counts of lewd acts on a child is a fugitive after an El Dorado County judge allowed him to remain free on bail before his sentencing.
Carl Cacconie, 53, disappeared before his Aug. 25, 2025, sentencing hearing where he faced 18 years in prison. As reported by KCRA, Cacconie was found guilty on July 17, 2025, after a trial at the courthouse in South Lake Tahoe.
Despite the guilty verdicts, Judge Michael McLaughlin allowed Cacconie to leave the courthouse. El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said his office asked the judge to take Cacconie into custody immediately after the jury reached its decision.
Pierson said a person convicted of multiple acts against a child should have been remanded. The prosecutor said the $1 million bond Cacconie posted may have become a price for his freedom.
The victim, now an adult, was 11 at the time of the abuse. She said the guilty verdict provided a sense of relief and felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She and her mother, Alana Ramirez, now say they live in fear that Cacconie will return. Ramirez said the justice system failed them and questioned why a convicted felon was permitted to walk free.
Judge McLaughlin has declined to comment. The court cited the California Code of Judicial Ethics, which prevents judges from discussing pending cases.
Retired legal experts have criticized the decision to grant the release. As reported by KCRA, retired Sacramento County Judge Maryanne Gilliard said the man was a danger to society and should have been jailed immediately.
A second retired judge characterized the decision as an exercise of poor judgment. The judge noted that serious felony convictions warrant detention even when high bail is involved.
Cacconie was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of his disappearance. A report from the El Dorado County Probation Department stated the device lost its connection and location on Aug. 17, 2025.
The device was last tracked to an address in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Probation records indicate that officials did not contact Cacconie for two days after the signal was lost.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Cacconie told probation officers he was charging the device. The department was unable to reach him again and never recovered the equipment.
The last contact between the department and Cacconie occurred six days before he was due in court. A bench warrant is now active for his arrest.
On the day of the sentencing, Cacconie’s family reported him missing to San Francisco police. They claimed he left a suicide note.
Defense attorney Chris Walsh said he believes his client is dead, as per KCRA. Walsh noted that Cacconie had a history of appearing for every court date prior to the disappearance.
Pierson said he is confident the convict is alive. As reported by KMPH, the district attorney warned that any person helping Cacconie avoid authorities could face charges.
The victim’s family said they will believe Cacconie is alive until a body is found. They are advocating for changes to the law that would require judges to detain individuals convicted of child sex crimes immediately.
Local authorities are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the fugitive to contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors said the search remains active.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
