What is happening in California?
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper on Monday sharply criticized the parole of David Allen Funston, a 64-year-old man convicted of kidnapping and molesting children in the mid-1990s, after state records showed he was granted parole under California’s elderly parole program.
“A judge in Sacramento described him… as the monster parents fear most, yet today the parole board decided he is suitable for release,” Cooper said during a press conference at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office headquarters.
Cooper said Funston targeted eight children — seven girls and one boy between the ages of 3 and 7 — in the Sacramento area in 1995 and 1996.
“He lured them with candy, Barbie dolls, toys, and abused these kids horrifically, horrifically,” Cooper said.
According to Cooper, Funston was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation and received a sentence of 20 years and eight months, along with three consecutive terms of 25 years to life.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records show Funston was granted parole at a subsequent suitability hearing on Sept. 24, 2025.
Cooper pointed to changes in state law allowing certain inmates to be considered for parole once they reach age 50 and have served at least 20 years.
“Unfortunately, in 2020, a bill was passed that made folks eligible for parole as early as 50 years of age once they served 20 years, so he qualifies. He’s 64 years old… that is dead wrong,” Cooper said. “What in the hell is going on in California? What is happening in our state? This cannot happen. It’s not OK.”
Retired Detective Rafael Rodriguez, who worked on the original investigation, said he learned of the decision through news reports and expressed outrage.
“The victims here, they got a life sentence. OK, a life sentence,” Rodriguez said.
Undersheriff Mike Ziegler also criticized the decision, arguing Funston had served only a fraction of his sentence.
“He was sentenced to almost or a little over 90 years. He’s done less than a third of that, and he’s going to be on the streets,” Ziegler said, adding that some current child abuse suspects could become eligible for parole at age 50 under the law.
A woman identified as Amelia, who said she was one of Funston’s victims, spoke at the press conference and opposed the release.
“This man has took innocence from myself and others,” she said. “He is a criminal child molester, dangerous, and deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars,” she said.
Asked what happens next, Cooper said the timeline for Funston’s release remains uncertain, but warned the community could see him return to Sacramento.
“That’s what’s scary,” Cooper said. “They don’t stop. They don’t stop.”
Fox News’ Bill Melugin shared the clip on X.
Watch the clip below:
Absolute insanity, but par for the course for California.
A serial child molester who used toys & candy to lure & victimize kids as young as four & who was sentenced to three life terms was granted parole & early release by the CA Parole Board today, despite a judge previously… https://t.co/VhHR0m8BfF
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 24, 2026
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