The California state Board of Parole is set to release a serial child rapist, Cody Woodsen Klemp, who still has 140 years left on his sentence. This decision comes as part of a program that allows for the early release of older inmates, despite objections from both the victim and the prosecutors involved in the case. Klemp, who is now 67 years old, had previous convictions for rape and attempted rape before he was entrusted with the care of his niece in 1990.
Four years later, Klemp was convicted on 40 felonies related to the repeated rape of his 14-year-old niece. These charges included 20 counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child, 10 counts of rape, and 10 counts of forced oral copulation on a child. During the trial, jurors heard evidence that Klemp had made numerous threats to kill his victims if they reported the abuse. However, the child managed to escape and disclose the abuse to her therapist.
Despite serving only 29 years of his 170-year prison sentence, the state parole board announced on November 8 that Klemp would be released before or on March 15, 2024. The decision was justified by the board, which consists of 21 commissioners appointed by the Governor and approved by the state senate, based on Klemp’s “low risk for violence,” advanced age, and “marketable skills.”
The Elderly Parole Program, which was enacted in 2018, allows for the parole review of inmates over 60 who have served 25 years of their sentence. In 2021, revisions to the program made inmates over 50 eligible for parole hearings if they had served 20 or more continuous years of their sentence. These changes paved the way for Klemp’s parole hearing.
Riverside District Attorney Mike Hestrin, who prosecuted Klemp, expressed shock at the board’s decision and stated that his office would continue to fight on behalf of the victims. Klemp’s victim testified at the parole hearing, describing the lasting psychological effects of the abuse and expressing her disbelief at the possibility of his release. She shared that the abuse had led her to engage in self-harm and contemplate suicide, and that she always believed she had done something to deserve the abuse.
Klemp’s victim was born to a developmentally disabled mother and was placed in the care of her uncle by child welfare agencies. The abuse began with a tickling game and escalated to repeated rape and psychological abuse. Klemp even gave the victim a gun and dared her to kill herself when she threatened to do so. The abuse only stopped when she had the courage to run away.
Following Klemp’s conviction, his niece sued child welfare agencies in Riverside and Los Angeles, alleging that they had not performed adequate background checks before placing her with her uncle. However, she lost the lawsuit on a technicality. It was only after her placement that mandatory background checks and home visits were mandated for child placements through the agency.
The victim, fearing for her safety and the safety of potential future victims, decided to go public with her story in the hope that the parole board would reconsider its decision. She emphasized the danger Klemp posed and expressed her belief that he would go on to harm other individuals if released.
The Riverside District Attorney’s Office has encouraged anyone opposed to Klemp’s release or the eligibility requirements of the Elderly Parole Program to contact Governor Gavin Newsom. They provided the governor’s contact information in their news release.
In conclusion, the impending release of Cody Woodsen Klemp, a serial child rapist, has sparked outrage from his victim and those involved in his prosecution. Despite objections, the state parole board has decided to release him early under the Elderly Parole Program. The victim has come forward with her story, hoping to prevent further harm and urging the board to reconsider its decision.
