In February, Townhall reported on David Funston, a serial child rapist who was called "the monster parents fear the most" by a California judge. Despite his heinous crimes, Funston was released under Gov. Gavin Newsom's "elderly parole program." Funston was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation in 1999, and one of his victims — who was just four years old when Funston kidnapped and assaulted her — told the L.A. Times, "He shouldn't be breathing the same air that we're breathing at all. I disagree with him getting paroled out because he's a horrible person. That man is a monster."
Just a month after that story, we learned that another pedophile, Gregory Lee Vogelsang, was set to be released too. Like Funston, Vogelsang molested multiple children in the 1990s and was convicted on dozens of felony counts, earning him 355 years in prison. That's because Newsom's "elderly parole system" allows inmates to get parole if they've served at least 25 years of their sentence and reached the age of 60.
But they're not alone. A parade of depraved, violent criminals keep getting set free thanks to Gavin Newsom, and one legislator is trying to fight back and protect California communities, citing the release of Funston and Vogelsang as proof of this.
Sickos keep walking early under Newsom's soft parole law https://t.co/sqC2G0c4mQ pic.twitter.com/vwC01qabz7
— New York Post (@nypost) August 24, 2026
The backlash eventually reached the state Capitol, where Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen introduced AB 2727 to tighten the rules governing elderly parole.
Nguyen initially sought to raise the eligibility age to 75, but the proposal was later watered down to 65, with at least 25 years served.
The revised law has yet to pass following pushback from the Prison Policy Initiative, which cited research claiming to show declining recidivism among offenders over 65.
But critics argue the cases that sparked the legislative fight show why age alone should not determine when a violent offender gets another chance at freedom.
“David Funston was released at 64. Do we all feel safer from this pedophile simply by waiting until he’s 65?” said Schubert.
“Age does not erase predatory behavior.”
To prove that the Prison Policy Initiative does not believe that research, suggest that guys like Funston and Vogelsang live next door to members of that group and their families. Or, better yet, move them in next to Gavin Newsom. See how long that lasts.
But it's not just those guys. Murderers are being released, too. This includes Christine Loyd, who murdered two senior citizens for money. She was sentenced to 55 years to life; Newsom released her after 31 years.
Update: Double killer Christine Loyd left prison today after Governor Gavin Newsom declined to stop her release. The 81-year-old was freed thanks to ‘elderly parole’ rules. An Alameda judge described her as “one of the most evil and cold-blooded murderers” he had ever seen. https://t.co/cJfyQj8WLx
— SF Public Safety News (@sf_safetynews) July 3, 2026
In 2004, Joseph Tidwell was driving under the influence of meth and other drugs when he crossed the center line and hit the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team's vehicle head-on. The team was on its way to find a missing hiker in Joshua Tree National Park. Two first responders — Scott Timothy Johnson, 30, and Philip Newton Calvert, 58, — both died. Several other first responders suffered serious injuries.
Tidwell had prior DUI arrests and was sentenced in January 2007 to 45 years to life. He's also due to be released, although the parole is waiting for review by Newsom. He only served 22 years.
I guess Democrats have not learned the lesson from the failed "criminal justice reform" movement. 🤦🏽♂️
— David R. Veloz (@drveloznj) August 24, 2026
They won't learn lessons because the increased crime and chaos are the point of these policies.
Remember who sprung you when you vote. https://t.co/mQRVS8A5fQ
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) August 24, 2026
Back in March, we reported on a criminal who was released by Gavin Newsom and who plans to repay Newsom by voting for him in 2028. That's the entire game here: release criminals, get chaos, earn votes.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
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