Bay Area sex offender with cancer denied mercy release

A state inmate convicted of child molestation in Marin County in 1989 has been denied early medical release because of terminal cancer.

Victor Wayne Cooper, 69, lived in Novato when the crimes occurred. He allegedly molested a 6-year-old Novato girl, the daughter of an acquaintance, over a five-month period.

The crimes were revealed after a doctor found that the girl had contracted a venereal disease.

Cooper was convicted of four counts of lewd acts against the girl. A judge sentenced him to 60 years to life in prison. Cooper had two prior rape convictions.

Last year, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sought to grant Cooper “compassionate release” from prison because he has colon cancer, according to a state appeals court ruling. The prosecution objected, saying Cooper still posed a risk.

“Cooper’s counsel responded that Cooper’s medical condition, particularly his mobility issues, made it unlikely that he would commit any forcible sexual offenses if released,” the court ruling said. “Noting that Cooper was estimated to have six months to live, counsel urged that it would be most compassionate ‘to allow him to die outside the prison walls.’”

A Marin County judge denied the request. A lawyer for Cooper appealed, alleging the judge abused his discretion.

In a decision released on Aug. 29, a three-judge panel at the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled against Cooper, finding no error by the Marin judge.

Cooper’s lawyer, Maureen Bodo, declined to comment on the ruling.

Cooper is incarcerated at the state prison in Corcoran, Kings County. His most recent application for parole, in 2024, was denied for five years, according to the state prisons department.