๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ
The El Dorado County District Attorneyโs Office successfully opposed the early release of inmate Scott Alan Staples during a March 5, 2025, elder parole hearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings.
For the victims, the hearing required revisiting painful experiences they have worked hard to move forward from. They were retraumatized, forced to relive and recount horrific abuse because of Californiaโs elder parole laws, which now allow violent offenders to be considered for early release once they reach age 50.
In 2018, Penal Code ยง 3055 established elder parole eligibility for inmates who were 60 years or older and had served at least 25 years in state prison. Since that time, eligibility has expanded significantly. Today, inmates qualify for elder parole consideration at just 50 years old after serving 20 years, substantially increasing the number of offenders eligible for early release. When this happens, the inmate is entitled to a hearing where victims may speak about the facts of the underlying crimes and continued impact on their lives.
These laws allowed Scott Alan Staplesโdespite the severity of his crimes and long prison sentenceโto seek early release after serving less than half of his sentence.
Staples was convicted and sentenced in 2006 to 48-years in state prison for continuous sexual abuse of three separate victims. One victim, identified as S.G., was subjected to rape and molestation from just 4 years old to 10 years old, when she ultimately disclosed the abuse. She stated she came forward because she was โsick of itโ and โcould not take it anymore.โ
โScott made the choices that put him here. I understand that this policy is meant for those who can be reformed and have a low likelihood of offending again. This man is not one of those people,โ said S.G.
The District Attorneyโs Office argued that Staples continues to pose a danger to the community, citing his ongoing minimization of his offenses, lack of accountability, and concerning risk assessments. Fortunately, the Board agreed, issuing a five-year denial of parole. He will not be eligible again until 2031.
The facts of this case, as well as the fact that Staples received a parole hearing so quickly, are deeply disturbing. Staples repeatedly exploited positions of trust to commit prolonged abuse against multiple victims, including very young children. Even after two decades in custody, he has failed to demonstrate meaningful insight or rehabilitation, yet was still entitled to a hearing, just because of his age. No evidence was presented at the hearing that Staples suffers from any health issues or concerns.
While the denial of parole is the appropriate outcome, the fact that this hearing occurred at all underscores a broader concern. Policies designed to address prison overcrowding have expanded over time, creating a pathway for individuals convicted of serious and violent crimes to seek early release, often forcing victims to relive their trauma through repeated parole hearings.
The El Dorado County District Attorneyโs Office will continue to review and oppose elder parole for inmates who pose a threat to public safety and strongly advocate for reform of elder parole laws.