A pedophile sentenced to 350 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in 2003 could now be released under California law because he is old.

An “inhumane” pedophile sentenced to 350 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in 2003 could now be freed under a controversial California law.

Charles William Mix was 47 when he kidnapped his friend's daughter and smuggled her across state lines to Utah before subjecting her to his sordid fantasies in June of that year.

His family thought he would spend the rest of his life behind bars, but 20 years later, Mix, 69, could be released under California's relatively new senior parole program because of his age, after serving just six percent of his sentence.

The victim, now 27, is not ready to talk about the horrors she endured, but her loved ones have written a heartbreaking letter pleading with authorities to keep Mix in prison – while slamming the parole program as offering a “light pardon” to criminals.

In the letter, they call Mix a “vile” predator who was “old enough to be his grandfather” while citing the damning closing remarks made by the judge who sentenced him to 350 years in prison.

An “inhumane” pedophile sentenced to 350 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in 2003 could now be freed under a controversial California law. The victim's family (pictured) have written a letter pleading with authorities to block his release

“I am writing to request – no, to implore – you to deny parole to the above-named inmate, who was sentenced 20 years ago to 350 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl,” the victim’s family wrote to the commissioners.

“He was 49 at the time, old enough to be his grandfather, and certainly old enough to know exactly what he was doing.

“The basic facts mentioned above are already despicable enough. But the details of the crime are even worse.”

Mix was convicted of various charges including willful cruelty to a child, kidnapping with intent to commit robbery or rape, lewd acts with a child under 14, burglary and many others.

At the time of the abduction, he was living with his family in Riverside. On the morning of June 2, 2003, the girl's father realized she was missing and called 911.

The next day, Riverside police located Mix and the victim hundreds of miles away in Richfield, Utah, after a passerby noticed them and reported the sighting.

Mix had fled with the child in a stolen vehicle, the interior of which had disturbing heart-shaped markings.

Police also discovered sexually explicit photographs Mix had taken of the girl, as well as love letters he had written to her.

He later admitted to Utah detectives that he had sex with the girl naked, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Charles William Mix was 47 when he kidnapped his friend's five-year-old daughter and smuggled her across state lines to Utah before subjecting her to his sordid fantasies in 2003.

Pictured: The stolen vehicle Mix used to abduct the five-year-old girl in June 2003

Pictured: Disturbing scribbles inside the stolen vehicle Mix used to abduct the five-year-old girl in June 2003

“Inmate Mix was not a stranger to the child, but a 'friend' to the child and his father,” the family wrote of his disgusting betrayal in the letter to the commissioners.

“They lived together in the same house, where he took advantage of her closeness, her family-like relationship and the trust of a very young child, accumulating lasting emotional damage in addition to the physical damage.”

Their letter then quotes the scathing closing remarks of Riverside County Superior Court Judge Christian F. Thierbach, who sentenced Mix to 350 years in prison.

Thierbach told Mix at the time: “The human race has yet to create a punishment that adequately addresses what you did to that little girl, and I suspect one reason for that is that what you did to her was inhumane.”

The judge then explained that Mix could only be released from prison if he received a pardon.

“I dare say that if this happens, civilization as we know it will have ceased to exist,” Thierbach said.

The family's letter castigates the seniors' parole program as a “pardon lite” that could make this horror a reality.

Under the program, inmates aged 50 or older who have served 20 consecutive years in prison are eligible to appear for parole board hearings.

“She's going to have to deal with this for the rest of her life and she's going to have to learn to cope with what happened to her for the rest of her life,” said the victim's sister, Claira Stansbury.

The victim's sister, Claira Stansbury, also spoke with KTLA about the traumatic impact the experience had on her sister.

“She's going to have to deal with this for the rest of her life and she's going to have to learn to deal with what happened to her for the rest of her life,” she said.

Stansbury added that this situation was made worse by the prospect of Mix's release.

“A lot of trauma has been reopened,” she told KTLA. “Things that we’ve healed from and need to dive back into.”

The senior parole program aims to ease the financial burden of keeping older people in prison if authorities believe they are unlikely to commit another crime.

The parole board will consider the seriousness of Mix's crimes, whether he has taken responsibility or shown remorse, and whether he continues to pose a danger to society.

Stansbury said she does not believe Mix can be rehabilitated, adding that the parole program is an affront to the victims and their families.

“Legislators all want to talk about the horror of life sentences for these types of criminals, I don't think they're really considering life sentences for victims who had no choice,” she told KTLA.

“I absolutely believe he would commit crimes again, whether it was to find my sister or another innocent child.”

Pictured: The victim's father speaking to the press at the time of his daughter's disappearance

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office said it supports victims who must attend parole hearings to keep “dangerous criminals” in prison.

“It is appalling that the state continues to subject victims and their families to additional trauma, forcing them to fight for sentences that have already been handed down by a court,” the office said.

“This practice forces victims to relive their devastating experiences.

“We have a team of dedicated attorneys and victim specialists who fight against the early release of dangerous criminals.

“Our office is committed to protecting victims and ensuring that this practice of early parole is ended.”

The family appealed for public support for their letter urging the board to block Mix's parole, sending an email to [email protected].