Victim speaks out against serial child predator’s California parole approval
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The victim of a convicted serial child predator expressed anger this week after the California parole board approved his release, saying she did not accept her attacker’s apology and feared he could harm others if released.
“It disgusts me that they would even believe anything he says…” said one of the man’s victims, Amelia. “I don’t believe people change like that.”
The remarks came after the California Board of Parole Hearings found David Allen Funston, 64, eligible for parole decades later after he was convicted in 1999 of 16 felonies related to a string of kidnappings and child molestation. He was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison and sentenced to three consecutive terms of 25 years.
Funston became eligible for review under the California Elderly Parole Program, which allows inmates who are at least 50 years old and have served 20 years to be considered for early release.
A guard walks in front of the California Male Institution in Chino, a state prison, left. Mug shot of David Allen Funston, a Sacramento County child predator convicted of multiple counts of kidnapping and child molestation in 1999. Funston was granted parole under California’s Elderly Parole Program after serving more than twenty years in prison, right? (Photo: Ann Johansson/Corbis via Getty Images; X/@sacsheriff)
The decision sparked immediate backlash from victims, law enforcement and state leaders.
California Governor Gavin Newsom previously sent the case back to the Parole Hearing Board for additional review after the parole panel approved the release. According to FOX40 In Sacramento.
He asked the board to reconsider its decision.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom looks on during a bill signing event to redraw the state’s congressional maps on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. In a statement to FOX40 in Sacramento, Newsom called on the board to “reconsider” its decision. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“The governor asked [the Board of Parole Hearings] Reconsider your decision. “The Governor disagrees with the outcome,” a Newsom spokesperson told the outlet.
Newsom does not have the authority to directly overturn the board’s decision.
Funston’s attorney, Maya Emig, said there was no precedent for the board to reconsider the decision, noting that the parole board approved his release in September and the full board approved that approval on Feb. 18. According to the Los Angeles Times.
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Amelia told “The Ingraham Angle” that Funston’s abuse had lasting consequences on her life, including ongoing trauma and difficulty getting pregnant.
“I would love to have a child and this man took that away from me. Personally, I think it’s very hurtful,” she said.
“I’m traumatized. I don’t trust anyone. I don’t trust anything.”
Amelia expressed concern for her nephews if Funston returned to Sacramento.
“If he gets out, who knows if he’ll do it again? I was told he’s still fantasizing about kids…why would you let this guy go? That’s what this guy says. How can you not know if he’ll continue when he gets out?”
Amelia also rejected expressions of remorse from Funston, who told the parole board that he was “disgusted and ashamed” of his past behavior and “truly sorry” for the harm he had caused.
When asked if he accepted his apology, he said: “No, I do not and will not accept it.” “I know it says in the Bible that we should forgive others, but there are some things that cannot be forgiven.”
Former Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who helped prosecute the case, called the parole decision “shocking” and “disgusting” and accused Newsom of signing legislation that expanded the existing Elderly Parole Program, which began under federal court authority in 2014.
“It was Gavin Newsom who signed the law that allowed the release of serial sex offenders without any exclusions,” Schubert said. EU 3234 — Legislation Newsom signed in 2020 that lowered the length of service requirement from 25 years to 20 and increased eligibility from 60 to 50.
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“Every rational person would think that there was a man who kidnapped seven little children under the age of 7, did terrible things to them, fantasized about the children, and is still fantasizing. [should be kept in prison]. “Who would think it would be a good idea to release this man after three life sentences?”
Schubert repeated calls for the law to be changed and vowed to do “everything in our power” to have the decision reversed.
“We just sent another letter to the parole board asking them to revoke this. They have the legal authority to do so… “We wanted him to be considered a sexually violent predator so that he could be civilly charged…”
“We will do everything to at least change this law.”
Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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