Convicted child predator last tracked in SF disappears after judge allows release before sentencing

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif -- A convicted child sex offender who vanished after being allowed to remain free on bail was last tracked to San Francisco before disappearing, according to an El Dorado County Probation Department report. Carl Cacconie, convicted of six counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child in El Dorado County, failed to appear for sentencing and is now considered a fugitive by the district attorney.

"He's a monster, and he took away my innocence," said the victim, whom we are not identifying.

She is now an adult and says she was eleven when the abuse occurred. She recalls fearing no one would believe her.

"He was an adult. People would believe an adult before me," she said.

Guilty Verdicts

Cacconie was found guilty on July 17, 2025, following a trial at the El Dorado County courthouse in South Lake Tahoe. The victim described the moment she learned of the verdict.

"It was a sense of relief. All of the tears-it was all worth it in the end. Even though it was one of the hardest things I've had to go through, it felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders," she said.

Judge allows Cacconie to leave court

Despite the conviction, Cacconie was not immediately taken into custody. El Dorado County Judge Michael McLaughlin allowed him to leave the courthouse and return for sentencing on August 25, 2025, where he faced up to 18 years in prison. Cacconie never showed up.

"Where is he? He just disappeared," the victim said.

Cacconie now has a bench warrant out for his arrest.

No show at sentencing

The victim and her mother, Alana Ramirez, expressed fear and anger over the situation.

"It angers me because we were so close to him going to jail," Ramirez said.

Ramirez shared her concerns about Cacconie being free.

"He might come after my daughter," Ramirez said.

"I think about it every day, even when I go to sleep at night. It's something I fear every day. It's not a good feeling," she added.

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Ramirez blamed the judge for allowing Cacconie to remain free.

"I don't understand why you would let him go after he was found guilty. I don't have an answer, and I wish he-or someone-would give us one. Nobody has explained how this was possible," Ramirez said.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said his office pushed Judge McLaughlin to take Cacconie into custody immediately after the guilty verdicts, but said the judge allowed him to walk out of the courthouse.

"This is someone a jury unanimously convicted of multiple acts against a child. Under those circumstances, there's simply no question he should have been remanded into custody," Pierson said.

Cacconie had posted a $1 million bond, which he could forfeit by failing to appear at sentencing. Pierson agreed when asked whether that amount may have effectively become the "price of freedom."

Questioning the judge's decision

Judge McLaughlin declined to comment. The court cited the California Code of Judicial Ethics, which prohibits judges from discussing pending cases.

So, KCRA 3 Investigates also reached out to retired Superior Court judges to assess whether the decision could be justified.

Retired Sacramento County Judge Maryanne Gilliard was critical of the decision.

"It was clear this man was a danger to society. He should have been immediately remanded," Gilliard said.

We consulted a second retired judge who said, "Letting someone out who has been convicted of such serious felonies, even with $1 million bail-is exercising very poor judgment."

Failed ankle monitor

An El Dorado County Probation Department report obtained by KCRA 3 Investigates said Cacconie was also wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of his disappearance. According to a Probation Department report submitted to the court, "On August 17, 2025, the device lost its connection and location." It was last tracked to an address in San Francisco's Sunset District.

The report also states that no one from the Probation Department contacted Cacconie for two days. On August 19, 2025, the report notes, "the defendant reported he was charging the anklet." The Probation Department said it was unable to reach him again and never recovered the ankle monitor. Their last contact with him was six days before he failed to show up to his own sentencing in South Lake Tahoe.

Is Cacconie alive?

Cacconie's family reported the 51-year-old missing to San Francisco police on August 25, 2025, the day of sentencing, claiming he left a suicide note. Pierson said he is confident Cacconie is alive and warned that anyone helping him evade authorities could face charges.

Cacconie's defense attorney Chris Walsh told KCRA 3 he believes Cacconie is dead. He suggests his client's history of never missing a court appearance may have played a role in the judge allowing him to leave court on the day of the verdicts.

"I feel like the justice system let us down, and it hurts," Ramirez said.

The family of the victim says that without the discovery of Cacconie's body, they believe he is alive. They hope sharing their story will lead to someone reporting his whereabouts. They are also calling for changes to the law requiring judges to immediately detain individuals convicted of child sex crimes.

"You know, once they're found guilty, they should be put away," the victim said.

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