Kevin Kiley: “I rise today to share the alarming news that in California a serial child molester by the name of David Funston has been…”

“I rise today to share the alarming news that in California a serial child molester by the name of David Funston has been granted early release. The parole board has granted parole to Mr. Funston, a serial child molester, who, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, used candy and toys to lure children 7 years old and younger. He was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation. According to the sheriff, multiple young children were victimized, some as young as 4 years old. He was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, along with three additional consecutive sentences of 25 years to life, with the judge describing him as 'the monster parents fear the most.' Yet the parole board has now released him or has recommended his release pursuant to a program known as the Elderly Parole Program that grants eligibility of parole to individuals over the age of 50. Now, when this program was expanded to include anyone over 50, even for these most heinous and vile of crimes, I was a member of the legislature and voted against it. It, in fact, received broad bipartisan opposition, yet Governor Gavin Newsom nevertheless signed that bill into law, putting many Californians and many young Californians at risk. Mr. Speaker, this is the outrageous consequence of reckless criminal laws in California that have removed consequences for criminal activity and provided for the early release of tens of thousands of serious, hardened criminals.”