A convicted child molester from California, who was on the verge of being released, has instead found himself facing new legal troubles. Authorities confirmed that a fresh arrest warrant was issued in Placer County, leading to his immediate handover to law enforcement.
David Allen Funston, aged 64, was apprehended around 7:30 a.m. by law enforcement following the issuance of new criminal charges by Placer County, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Funston was originally granted parole earlier this week, with plans for his release already in place. He was sentenced back in 1999 to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after being convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of children, including charges of kidnapping and committing lewd acts with a minor under the age of 14.
His potential release was facilitated through California’s Elderly Parole Program, having served over two decades behind bars. However, those plans have been halted as new allegations surface.
According to prosecutors in Placer County, Funston’s crimes date back to 1996, involving the kidnapping and molestation of a child in Roseville, which has now prompted the latest legal actions against him.
The unsettling past of Funston, captured in a mugshot shared by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, reveals a history of multiple convictions for kidnapping and child molestation, underscoring the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing vigilance required in handling such cases.
Funston was convicted in 1999 of kidnapping and child molestation involving multiple victims. He was originally sentenced to three life terms in prison. However, under California’s Elderly Parole Program, he was granted parole suitability and scheduled for release from CDCR custody.
The Placer County District Attorney’s Office said it refiled charges against Funston stemming from the 1996 case within the state’s statute of limitations.
He was found suitable for parole at a hearing before the Board of Parole Hearings on Sept. 24, 2025.
On Jan. 9, 2026, Gov. Gavin Newsom referred the case back to the Board of Parole Hearings for an en banc review, in which a majority of appointed commissioners reconsider the prior parole decision. On Feb. 18, 2026, the board reaffirmed its recommendation that Funston receive parole.
A guard walks outside the California Institution for Men in Chino, a state prison facility. (Ann Johansson/Corbis via Getty Images)
Funston qualified for consideration under California’s statutory Elderly Parole Program, which allows individuals to be considered for release once they reach age 50 and have served at least 20 consecutive years of incarceration.
California GOP Chair Corrin Rankin said the last-minute arrest does not resolve what she described as broader failures in state policy.
“This last-minute warrant doesn’t fix the problem — it exposes it. California Democrats, led by Gavin Newsom, built a parole system that was ready and willing to release a violent child predator back into our community. Newsom signed the laws that created these loopholes, appointed the people who uphold them, and the Democratic majority in the legislature continues to prioritize the well-being of criminals over victims,” Rankin said.
The former prosecutor who helped put Funston behind bars also weighed in after news of the arrest.
“God bless Placer County DA for charging David Funston for crimes committed by this serial child predator,” the former prosecutor said. “Let’s remember that @CAgovernor signed the law allowing this to happen. But Placer DA stepped in to stop this insanity.”
For victims, the controversy remains deeply personal.
One of Funston’s victims, identified as Amelia, voiced outrage this week after learning the parole board had approved his release.
“I’m disgusted with the fact that they would even believe anything that he would happen to say,” Amelia told “The Ingraham Angle.” “I don’t believe that people like that change.”
Amelia said Funston’s abuse has had lasting consequences on her life, including ongoing trauma and difficulty conceiving.
“I would love to have a child, and this is what this man took from me. And I feel like, personally, that’s very hurtful,” she said. “I have trauma. I don’t trust anybody. I don’t trust anything.”
She also expressed concern for younger family members if Funston were to return to the Sacramento area.
“If he gets out, who knows if he’ll do it again?” Amelia said. “I was told that he fantasizes still about children… why would you let this man out? When he gets out, how do you not know if he will continue?”
Funston reportedly told the parole board he was “disgusted and ashamed” of his past behavior and “truly sorry” for the harm he caused. Amelia rejected that apology.
Funston’s impending release had drawn sharp criticism from Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper and District Attorney Thien Ho, who warned he remained a danger to the community and sought intervention to stop his release.
It remains unclear when Funston will make his first court appearance in Placer County.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
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