FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Close to 1,300 sex offenders are living in Fresno, and city leaders are fighting to keep that number down.
Earlier this year, a convicted child molester was nearly released from prison and sent to Fresno.
“This man here is probably one of the most dangerous child predators that the state of California has ever seen,” said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp during a news conference held by city and county leaders Tuesday.
Smittcamp was referring to David Allen Funston, a convicted child kidnapper and molester.
In 1999, Funston received three consecutive life sentences for targeting eight children — The youngest, just three years old.
But earlier this year, the 64-year-old was nearly released through California’s Elderly Parole Program.
In 2020, the state expanded the program, allowing some inmates to be considered for parole after turning 50 and serving at least 20 years.
“Because of that change, this creep right here, David Allen Funston, was granted parole just last year,” said City Councilmember for District 2, Mike Karbassi.
Funston was set to be released in February, but to keep him in cuffs, authorities in Placer County reopened a 30-year-old case they had dropped in the interest of justice.
Before that happened, Funston said he wanted to go to the Centers for Living in Fresno, which provides transitional …
Fresno needs to be renamed Fearsno, home of fear mongering officials and residents.