California parole commissioners have tentatively signed off on the release of Ronald DeGuzman, a former San Francisco police officer who admitted to sexually abusing boys he met through Contra Costa churches, a move that has set off a fresh wave of anger among survivors and local prosecutors. The decision follows multiple hearings and what families describe as a long, punishing review process that forces them to relive the abuse. The board said DeGuzman would face special conditions if he is ultimately allowed to leave prison.
At his hearing, DeGuzman acknowledged years of predatory behavior, telling commissioners he had abused eight boys hundreds of times and that his voyeuristic conduct would push the real number of victims closer to 50, according to The Mercury News. As the outlet reported, he took a plea deal in 2017 after his 2014 arrest, leaving him with a life sentence that included the possibility of parole.
State records trace a winding path to the latest decision. A parole panel first granted DeGuzman release in October 2024. The governor then referred that decision for additional scrutiny, and in February 2025, the board’s en banc body voted to send the grant to a rescission hearing. Commissioners ultimately recorded a new grant on Jan. 28, according to the Board of Parole Hearings…