Sacramento sheriff’s motive for searching a parolee’s home is called into question
Lloyd Edwards’ roommate and a defense attorney speak out after the arrest
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento County deputies arrested Lloyd Clinton Edwards, a 47-year-old convicted rapist paroled in 2022, for violating parole conditions during a raid at a Gold River apartment complex last week.
The motive for the search is now being called into question.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper announced Edwards’ arrest after sharing a post hours earlier on social media that criticized the state’s parole board for having let him out of prison.
Edwards was convicted of rape in 2000 and sentenced to three consecutive terms of seven years to life in prison, plus 51 years. In the late 1990s, he raped a Chico woman at gunpoint and attempted to rape another woman at knifepoint.
Changes in state law allowed him to seek parole after serving 20 years. He was paroled in 2022 and had been living in Sacramento County since March 2025.
Edwards’ roommate, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Edwards has been a model citizen since his release.
“He’s really trying to correct his mistakes, and that’s not to take away anything from the victims. I completely and wholeheartedly have so much compassion for them, but it’s not always what it looks like on the surface. He made a mistake, and he paid dearly for it, and I’m sorry the sheriff doesn’t think he served enough time before parole,” the roommate said.
Sheriff Cooper has been vocal about decisions made by the parole board in recent years. Upon recently learning from a tip that Edwards was out, Cooper decided to have his team investigate. Cooper said Edwards was not following the conditions of his parole.
“He had a substance he was not allowed to have,” Cooper said.
The sheriff’s office did not specify the substance, despite days of requests about it from KCRA 3.
But Edwards’ roommate said deputies found rubbing alcohol under the sink, which was later confirmed by a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson. Over-the-counter medication was also found.
The sheriff’s office also found a device in Edwards’ car that can be used to search for hidden cameras or audio bugs; Cooper said on social media it could have been used to evade law enforcement surveillance.
But CDCR said having the device was not a violation of Edwards’ parole.
Mark Reichel, a defense attorney, criticized the sheriff’s office’s handling of the arrest.
“I believe they went there and were not going to leave there unless they had him in handcuffs and could videotape that,” Reichel said.
“The manner in which they did it was very heavy-handed as well. Then they roll him up and put it on TV for rubbing alcohol. It’s sad. I don’t think it’s fair,” Reichel said.
Cooper defended his actions, citing Edwards’ past crimes.
“At the end of the day, he did a very horrific crime, and is the public OK with someone getting out early? That’s the question, and I’m not OK with it,” Cooper said.
KCRA 3 did not find any other violations Edwards has had since his release.
He is set to complete parole in six months but now must attend Alcoholics Anonymous classes as a result of the new arrest.
Edwards said he has to live with his past mistakes but wants to make the best of his second chance at freedom.
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