Monster Child Molester Walks Free

A notorious California child molester, branded ‘the monster parents fear the most,’ wins parole at age 64 under a lenient elderly release program, igniting fury over blue state justice failing to protect families.

Story Snapshot

David Allen Funston, convicted of kidnapping and molesting seven children under age 7 in 1995-1996, granted parole despite three life sentences.
California’s Elderly Parole Program prioritizes age-related low recidivism over crime severity, freeing sex offenders from Chino prison.
Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper blasts decision as ‘dead wrong,’ demanding no second chances for those who stole childhoods.
Gov. Newsom requests reconsideration; Assemblymember Krell pushes bill for sexually violent predator reviews before release.
Case exposes flaws in overcrowding-driven reforms, eroding trust in a justice system that endangers communities.

Funston’s Heinous Crimes and Life Sentence

David Allen Funston lured seven Sacramento suburb children—six girls and one boy, all under age 7—with candy and toys during 1995-1996. He kidnapped and molested them, leading to arrest after a neighbor reported his license plate. In 1999, a judge sentenced him to three consecutive 25-to-life terms plus 20 years and 8 months on 16 counts, labeling him “the monster parents fear the most.” This protected communities for decades from a serial predator who destroyed innocent lives.

Elderly Parole Program Enables Release

California’s Elderly Parole Program, born from federal overcrowding orders, started in 2018 for inmates 60+ with 25 years served and expanded in 2021 to 50+ with 20 years. The Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) approved Funston’s release, citing his age 64, long incarceration, and diminished physical and cognitive capacity as reducing recidivism risk. Housed at California Institution for Men in Chino, he expressed shame in hearings, but the program includes violent sex offenders unlike death penalty cases. BPH finalized parole on February 18, 2026, per CDCR records.

Blue State Justice: 'Monster' CA Child Predator to Be Released Because He's Not a Threat at Age 64 https://t.co/7VFple1AZW He can look forward to 10-20 years of productive child rape thanks to his leftist buddies. Who's the Nazis?

— Janet douglas (@Janetdougl69332) February 26, 2026

Outrage from Law Enforcement and Officials

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper held a news conference condemning the parole as “dead wrong.” He stated Funston “abused these children horrifically” and “stole childhoods” with no second chance deserved. Victims and the original prosecutor expressed horror, arguing such offenders never warrant release. Gov. Gavin Newsom requested BPH reconsideration. Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Democrat with prosecutor background, proposes a bill requiring sexually violent predator referrals before elderly parole for sex offenders. This bipartisan push highlights systemic failures.

Precedents like rapist Cody Klemp’s release after 27 years of a 170-year sentence fuel demands for reform excluding irredeemable predators. While program data shows low recidivism—98% of 221 releases crime-free after three years in 2019-20—critics insist sex offender risks endure regardless of age, prioritizing evidence over moral hazard.

Community Risks and Reform Momentum

Short-term, Sacramento families face fear of unsupervised release, retraumatizing victims without disclosed destination or date. Long-term, the case pressures CDCR and BPH for stricter criteria, positioning California’s program as the nation’s most lenient amid prison savings versus SVP commitment costs. It erodes justice system trust, critiqued as blue state leniency favoring overcrowding relief over public safety and family protection. Political momentum builds across aisles, testing program efficacy against visceral predator threats.