Kevin Barker, a former foster parent, was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 years to life in prison for his crimes against children, which included the sexual assault of multiple minors and possession of child pornography. According to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Barker pleaded no contest to four counts of committing lewd acts upon a child on October 7, 2024.

Barker, who is 43 years old, has been found to have been active in his predatory behavior from 2008 to 2018. The court heard how he would befriend children at local places, such as skate parks, and later lure them to his residence to groom and molest them. Prosecutors highlighted that Barker used gifts, money, alcohol, and marijuana as a means to facilitate his terrible acts. As per Deputy District Attorney Bruce Chang of the Cybercrimes Unit, Barker also admitted to allegations of "befriending children for the purpose of molestation" and "abusing a position of trust," as reported by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.

Barker exploited his position as a foster parent, a role he held since 2011, to take advantage of the children in his care. The turning point in the case came when a neighbor reported Barker to law enforcement upon witnessing him attempting to secretly capture images of the children at his home. This led to the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force serving a search warrant at Barker's Rancho Cordova residence, where they discovered images of child abuse.

Under California law, despite the heinous nature of these offenses, Barker could potentially be released early at age 50 during an Elder Parole hearing after serving just 20 years of his sentence. Due to "in-custody credits," his early release could occur in approximately 14 years. This aspect of the case has sparked debate, with many questioning the efficacy of a system that allows for the potential early release of individuals convicted of such serious crimes against children.