Parents in Ripon are expressing outrage and concern after a convicted child molester, George Frederick Matson, was spotted watching young athletes at a local baseball tournament.
The alarming sighting, which occurred in May 2023, has reignited concerns about Matson’s repeated presence at youth events, given his lengthy and troubling criminal history.
Matson, now 86, is a registered sex offender with a record that stretches back years and across multiple counties.
In October 2016, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee listed Matson as “absconded” after he failed to comply with sex offender registry laws.
Authorities reported that Matson, required to check in every three months, had not contacted them in over a year.
His last known address at the time was near the South Holston Dam area in Sullivan County.
Despite ongoing efforts to track him, Matson continued to evade law enforcement.
In a disturbing incident in Placer County, California, in 2017, a watchful parent recognized Matson lingering around children’s baseball games in Auburn.
That parent quickly alerted deputies, leading to Matson’s arrest for failing to register as a sex offender.
Deputies later discovered baseball equipment in his vehicle, further heightening community concerns.
Officials publicly praised parents for their vigilance, emphasizing how their swift action had led to Matson’s capture.
Yet, Matson’s troubling behavior persisted. On May 26, 2023, Nevada County deputies arrested him once again—this time for allegedly molesting a minor and unlawfully entering school grounds.
Authorities say Matson approached two 9-year-olds at the Bear River Little League baseball field in Grass Valley, California, and allegedly tickled one of the children near the hip before walking away.
Both victims later identified Matson as the suspect, leading to his arrest and booking at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility.
Despite this series of arrests, Matson resurfaced yet again—this time in Ripon, where a concerned parent spotted him watching children at a baseball tournament.
The parent immediately alerted authorities, who are now investigating the incident.
For parents and residents, Matson’s repeated presence at youth sporting events has become a symbol of frustration over loopholes in the monitoring of convicted sex offenders.
Many are calling for stricter enforcement and improved tracking to ensure offenders like Matson cannot repeatedly slip through the cracks and return to environments where children are present.
Law enforcement continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, especially when it involves known sex offenders like Matson.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact their local sheriff’s office immediately.
