A California man, David Allen Funston, aged 64, was initially slated for release this week after being controversially granted parole. However, moments before his release, he was arrested due to a new warrant issued in Placer County. Hearing records revealed that Funston had acknowledged, during proceedings, that he continued to provide sexual pleasure to children as recently as 2021.
This possible release raised alarm and backlash, particularly directed at Governor Gavin Newsom. Recordings from the legal hearings highlighted Funston’s troubling background, which includes a diagnosis of pedophilic disorder and claims of childhood trauma linked to his violent past.
Funston was convicted in 1999 on multiple charges of kidnapping and child molestation. He mentioned during a recent hearing that he still had fantasies about an 8-year-old girl who lived nearby. Furthermore, he confessed to raping a young boy because he felt the child was “defenseless and helpless” and indicated that he chose to target children for the power it gave him.
When prompted about the origin of these fantasies, he tentatively suggested that it might be “seeing pictures of adult women” or “reading some pedophile stories that my father had.” Funston traced a link between his urges and his upbringing, suggesting that exposure to dangerous and taboo activities, like watching his father’s pornography and abusing his half-sister, may have contributed to his current desires.
Details from a May 2022 parole hearing revealed even more disturbing elements; Funston shared his incestuous fantasies involving his own daughter and recounted how he selected his first victim. He described a moment of opportunity when he spotted a child while looking for rental property in Sacramento, calling it a chance to realize his fantasies.
On January 9, Governor Newsom ordered a review of Funston’s case, leading to a re-evaluation of his parole status. The Parole Board, on February 18, 2026, had recommended Funston’s release again. Yet, shortly after, he faced accusations of involving himself in a kidnapping and sexual abuse case from 1996, resurfacing just in time to complicate his release plans.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office reacted promptly to the possibility of his release, investigating options to safeguard community safety. They notified Placer County about the reopened case against Funston, emphasizing that it still fell within the statute of limitations.
Funston’s complicated relationship with his family surfaced during the hearings; he expressed feelings of blame towards his mother regarding personal issues and reflected on his struggles with shame and inadequacy. Despite attempts to project change, he candidly admitted that he still felt an attraction to young girls during a parole board questioning session.
