by San Diego, California – A San Diego babysitter who used her child care services—specifically marketed for children with special needs—to prey on defenseless young girls has been sentenced to 100 years to life in prison for horrific acts of sexual abuse.
According to the New York Post, 31-year-old Brittney Mae Lyon admitted to abusing multiple children, some as young as three years old, and allowing her boyfriend, Samuel Cabrera, to molest them as part of a “demonic” system of exploitation.
How the Abuse Was Uncovered
The abuse came to light in 2016, when a 7-year-old victim told her mother she did not want to be left with Lyon anymore. Suspicious, the mother contacted police, leading to Lyon’s arrest.
Investigators later discovered that Lyon and Cabrera had coordinated their access to the children, with Lyon sometimes bringing victims to Cabrera’s home or inviting him into hers. In some cases, Lyon assaulted the children alone; in others, she and Cabrera committed the crimes together.
Authorities uncovered a disturbing level of premeditation. Lyon even obtained drugs and other items to facilitate the abuse.
The Victims: Children With Special Needs Targeted
Among the victims were two girls with autism, including one who was nonverbal. Families had trusted Lyon because she advertised her babysitting services as specialized for children with developmental challenges.
Court records reveal that the children were abused repeatedly, with Lyon recording many of the assaults on video.
Disturbing Evidence Against Cabrera and Lyon
After a short police chase, authorities arrested Cabrera and found a double-locked box inside his car. The box contained six hard drives filled with hundreds of videos depicting the sexual assaults.
The videos showed children being abused, drugged, and subjected to extreme cruelty. In addition, Lyon had secretly recorded women and girls in changing rooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms across North County, further compounding the case against her.
Sentencing and Legal Fallout
On August 14, 2025, a judge sentenced Lyon to 100 years to life after she pleaded guilty to two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child and two counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child.
Her boyfriend, Cabrera, was convicted in 2019 and is already serving eight life terms without parole after his 2021 sentencing.
Although Lyon’s sentence is severe, California’s current parole laws allow her to apply for parole at age 50—potentially serving as little as 28 years. This sparked outrage among lawmakers and child safety advocates.
Read Also: King of Prussia Man Sentenced for Stalking Woman He Met Online in Montgomery County
Calls to Close the “Elderly Parole” Loophole
California lawmakers are now pushing for reforms to ensure violent child predators like Lyon cannot use the “elderly parole” law to secure early release.
- Senate Bill 286: Would exclude convicted sex offenders from applying for elderly parole.
- Assembly Bill 47: Would prevent early parole for sex offenders under similar provisions.
Both bills remain stalled in appropriations committees, but San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan has publicly urged legislators to act.
“The victims, their families and the safety of all children in California need to be the priority,” Stephan said. “The age of 50 is hardly ‘elderly,’ particularly in the realm of child molesters, who need only be in a position of trust and power to abuse children.”
Why This Case Matters
The Lyon case is one of the most disturbing child abuse scandals in California in recent memory, not only for its brutality but also for how it exploited trust in a caregiver system meant to protect vulnerable children.
The sentencing underscores the legal system’s recognition of the severity of crimes against children, but the looming possibility of parole has left many calling for urgent legislative changes.
Bottom Line
Brittney Mae Lyon will likely spend decades behind bars, but unless California lawmakers act, she could still petition for release well before serving her full sentence. For families of the victims and community advocates, ensuring she never walks free has become a rallying cry for reform.
Do you think California should ban parole eligibility for violent child sex offenders entirely, regardless of age? Join the discussion in the comments at ibwhsmag.com.
