A convicted California child molester who vanished before sentencing and remained a fugitive for nearly 10 months has finally been captured, reigniting criticism of a justice system that allowed him to stay free after a jury found him guilty.
Carl Cacconie, 52, was arrested Saturday in Scottsdale, Arizona, after authorities tracked him down following a lengthy manhunt.
Members of the FBI Phoenix Desert Hawk Fugitive Task Force took him into custody without incident around 9 a.m.
The arrest comes after Cacconie disappeared while awaiting punishment for six counts of lewd acts with a child younger than 14 years old.
A jury convicted him on July 17, 2025, in El Dorado County, but despite the guilty verdict, he remained out of custody on $1 million bail pending sentencing.
As part of his release conditions, Cacconie surrendered his passport and was fitted with a monitoring device. Authorities said the device stopped transmitting on Aug. 17, 2025.
He was last seen in San Francisco on Aug. 22, 2025.
His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 25, 2025.
Instead of appearing in court, Cacconie vanished.
The case quickly became a flashpoint for critics who argue California’s criminal justice system gives dangerous offenders too much freedom even after conviction.
Months after Cacconie fled, the FBI issued a warrant for his arrest on May 14, 2026.
After another month of searching, authorities located him in Scottsdale, bringing the fugitive case to an end.
Cacconie is expected to appear in court in Scottsdale before being extradited to California.
Once returned, he will face sentencing for his convictions as well as additional charges connected to his disappearance.
“We never stopped fighting for justice in this case,” El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said.
“We are deeply grateful to our federal partners, whose collaboration was invaluable in locating and apprehending Cacconie. While nothing can erase the harm caused, we hope today’s outcome offers a measure of peace to Cacconie’s survivor and family, knowing that he will now finally be held accountable and sentenced for his crimes.”
The fallout from the case has already reached Sacramento.
State Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) has pointed to the case as the chief reason for legislation that would strip judges of discretion in similar cases.
The proposal would require anyone convicted of severe child sex crimes to be jailed immediately after a jury verdict, eliminating post-conviction bail.
Pressure has also mounted on the judiciary.
In May 2026, just weeks before Cacconie’s arrest, the victim’s family filed a formal complaint against Judge Michael McLaughlin with the California Commission on Judicial Performance.
