Cates testified at a State Senate hearing that the agent ignored what could have been a break in the case because of Garrido's parole status.
"He was an adult sex offender, so the agent saw what he thought was a 13-year-old female and got an explanation from a particularly smooth operator, and made a judgment mistake," he said.
Cate also said Garrido should have been classified as a high-risk sex offender, which would have made him a higher priority. He would not say if that parole agent was disciplined.
