When you’re a parent, there’s no greater task than working to ensure your children are spending time with people who have their best interest at heart and are going to keep them safe. You’d like to think your family members automatically fall into this category, but sadly, that is not always the case.
A 75-year-old California man has been arrested and charged after a family member reported that her 13-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted by a relative. In a sick twist, there have been reports from other victims and relatives between the ages of 8 and 13 years old in the 1980s who were also reportedly abused by this man.
An elderly California man has been accused of molesting a young family member. The abuse allegedly went on for years.
According to a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office post shared on its Facebook page, 75-year-old Larry Candies has been arrested and charged after a mother called the sheriff’s office in September 2025 to report that her 13-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted by Candies.
Sadly, Candies was a family member, and after being interviewed by a forensic interview specialist and SSO child abuse detectives at the Family Justice Center in Modesto, California, the minor revealed that Candies had been molesting her since she was about 11 years old, so for about two years, per the sheriff’s office’s Facebook post.
It’s truly such a sickening thing to take place within a family.
The 75-year-old has previous victims that investigators have spoken with.
Unfortunately, this does not look like the first time that Candies has committed this heinous criminal act.
According to Sgt. Edward Igoe from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, there are sexual assault survivors from decades ago. “It turns out there was also unreported molestation that occurred all the way back in the ’80s,” Igoe told KCRA3.
The sheriff’s office’s social media post shares that SSO detectives contacted prior victims and spoke with two relatives of Candies, one of whom was reportedly sexually abused by the 75-year-old in the 1980s when the victim was between 8 and 13 years old.
Igoe told KCRA3 that “a lot of these monsters will victimize family members, relatives, but then, God forbid that relative has a friend stay the night. That’s where these additional victims come into play.”
We cannot imagine the hurt and trauma this man reportedly brought on to this family.
This case shows how perhaps the laws need to change.
California’s elder parole law, which applies to inmates 50 and older, is facing criticism for allowing some violent offenders serving life sentences to be released earlier, KCRA3 reported.
Igoe explained to the news outlet that the sheriff’s office wants to prevent sexual predators like Candies from having prison sentences cut short. It certainly doesn’t seem fair to the victims when something like that occurs.
“Here’s a perfect example of someone that’s 75 years old and still actively molesting, taking advantage of young victims, ruining not only their childhood, but their entire life as well as the lives of their family members,” Igoe explained to KCRA3.
The sheriff’s office shared in its Facebook post that Candies was arrested and booked on March 25, 2026. His bail was set at $1 million.
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families as they navigate this difficult period. We hope they get the justice and support they so deserve.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
