Many of us have often felt exasperated with the justice system’s revolving-door policies and lenient parole practices. California, in particular, has witnessed some questionable parole decisions, including the recent release of 64-year-old David Allen Funston, a convicted serial child sexual offender, under the state’s “elder parole” policy. Funston, now released at 64, is far from the typical image of a frail senior citizen. He is not at the age for full Social Security benefits, let alone requiring the care of a nursing home. While I cannot comment on Funston’s physical condition, being 64 myself, I can attest that it’s an age where one can still be quite active.
My colleague Bob Hoge recently reported on the story of Funston’s parole:
Initially, Funston was slated for release. However, authorities in Placer County, California, intervened, effectively putting a halt to the proceedings.
Funston was found guilty on 16 counts, targeting children under the age of seven. Does it need to be emphasized that he should consider himself fortunate to still be consuming prison meals and breathing air? This individual should never have been considered for release, yet the policy allowing his parole seems crafted by those with an overly lenient perspective.
This decision reflects a profound lapse in judgment, yet such blunders have become almost expected from California’s political leaders, including the well-groomed governor. As he entertains higher political aspirations, he might discover that such policies do not resonate well with the broader American public.
It’s important to recognize that California is not alone in these misguided decisions.
Funston was convicted in 1999 on 16 counts for terrorizing the Sacramento area in the mid-1990s, specifically targeting children under seven years old.
He was convicted on 16 counts. He targeted children under seven years of age. Is it belaboring the obvious to note that this goblin should feel lucky he is still capable of metabolizing his prison chow and of turning oxygen into CO2? This guy should never again have seen the sky or breathed clean air, but he was about to be freed under a policy no doubt written by the worst sort of leftie feather merchants.
Despite being sentenced to three life terms plus additional decades, he became eligible for release via the Elderly Parole Program.
This statutory program, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, lowered the eligibility age from the 60s to 50 and requires only 20 years of continuous incarceration. The program allows inmates over 50 who have served 20 years to be considered for release.
This right here is turbocharged stupidity, but we’ve come to expect that from politicians like the impeccably coiffed California governor, who, in the course of playing out his presidential fantasies, may find that these sorts of ideas don’t play well in flyover country.
California isn’t the only place this kind of nitwittery takes place, either.
Now, though, David Allen Funston faces a whole new set of charges. The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation and the California District Attorneys Association have both sent formal notices to the parole board to the effect that, given the new charges, Funston’s ongoing parole should be revoked.
Well, duh.
California parents, at least, can breathe a little easier, as Funston won’t be released anytime soon. On Thursday, instead of being released into the community, he was simply transferred to local law enforcement. For the moment, he’ll remain locked up pending his appearance to face these new charges. That’s good. This is a guy who should never again breathe free air. That’s what he was sentenced to. That’s what should happen.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
