Therapy, remorse: A look at how 'monster' child molester got parole and new efforts to alter law
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Outrage over parole being granted to a convicted serial child molester who lured children with candy has renewed calls to reform California’s elderly parole program under which violent offenders and sexual predators as young as 50 can become eligible for release.On Sunday, The Times reported that David Allen Funston — who was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation in 1999 — had been granted elderly parole at age 64.Funston sexually assaulted multiple children under 7 years old in the Sacramento suburbs in 1995 and 1996, prosecutors said.
He was described by a judge at his sentencing hearing as “the monster parents fear the most.” On Monday, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper held a news conference decrying the Board of Parole Hearings’ decision as “dead wrong.”“He abused these children horrifically.He stole their childhoods,” Cooper said.
“Someone that does these type of things, they don’t deserve a second chance in life.” California A Sacramento man who prosecutors said used candy and toys to lure children into his car and then molest them was granted elderly parole.Several of his victims and the woman who prosecuted the case are horrified that he may soon be released.A spokesperson for Gov.
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the governor did not agree with the parole decision and asked the board to review it again.The governor does not have authority to overturn the decision.
Funston’s attorney Maya Emig said there was no precedent for the board to rereview the case as it was approved by a panel in September and then reviewed and approved again by the full board Feb.18.
“The matter is done with respect to the board,” she said.Some state lawmakers are citing Funston’s case as evidence that California’s elderly parole program needs swift reform.“This gentleman in particular committed absolutely heinous crimes,” said ...