We have, on many occasions, had reason to be frustrated with revolving-door justice systems and overly lenient parole policies. California, in particular, has been the site of some really boneheaded parole decisions, not least of which was the recent decision to release one David Allen Funston, 64, a convicted serial child sexual predator, under an "elder parole" policy. Now, Funston is only 64. He's not even up to full Social Security age. It's not as though he's 95 and will spend the few remaining days in a full-care nursing home. I have no idea what kind of shape Funston is in, but I happen to be 64 myself, and I think I'm in pretty good shape.
My friend and colleague Bob Hoge covered the story of Funston's parole earlier this week:
Read More: Blue State Justice: 'Monster' CA Child Predator to Be Released Because He's Not a Threat at Age 64
So, sure, Funston was set to be set free - until Placer County, California, authorities held up a hand and said, "Not so fast."
A convicted serial child predator who was scheduled for release from state prison this week remains behind bars after Placer County authorities intervened with a last-minute arrest warrant.
David Allen Funston, 64, was transferred directly into law enforcement custody Thursday morning, narrowly avoiding a return to the community that sparked intense public outcry over the definition of "elderly" inmates and the limits of executive power.
What we know:
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.
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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.
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