The impending release of David Funston, a 64-year-old serial child molester described by a judge as “the monster parents fear the most,” has ignited a firestorm in California. At the center of the conflict is a clash between the administration of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and law enforcement officials, most notably Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper and former District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert. In 1999, Funston was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation from crimes committed in 1995 and 1996. Under California’s “Elderly Parole Program,” certain inmates become eligible for parole after reaching age 50 and serving at least 20 years in prison. Before the policy was expanded in 2021, the threshold had been age 60 and 25 years served. Sheriff Cooper, himself 62, argued that the law is “dead wrong,” particularly for a predator who kidnapped and brutalized children as young as three. Funston was originally sentenced to three consecutive life terms — a sentence effectively ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life in prison. In the face of public outcry, Gov. Newsom’s office said the parole board operates as an “independent agency” under state law. It dismissed criticism tying Newsom to the decision as “MAGA MISINFORMATION,” adding that while Newsom requested a re-review of the case and personally disagreed with the outcome, he has “no authority to reverse” the board’s decision.