San Francisco Public Defender Seeks Diversion for Troy McAlister Despite 91 Felonies and Two Fatalities

San Francisco, CA – A public defender is seeking a diversion program for Troy McAlister, the defendant accused in the 2020 New Year's Eve hit-and-run deaths of Hanako Abe, 27, and Elizabeth Platt, 60. The move comes despite McAlister's extensive criminal record, which includes 91 felonies, and has prompted strong opposition from the District Attorney's office and the victims' families. A pre-eligibility hearing for Drug Court is scheduled for October 3. Hiroko Abe, Hanako Abe's mother, recently received notice of the upcoming hearing, which will consider a referral to Mental Health Diversion/Drug Court for McAlister. According to a report by The Voice of San Francisco, "Despite 91 felonies, two deaths, and 25 years of chances, public defender wants diversion for Troy McAlister." The District Attorney's office is actively opposing this request, advocating for the case to remain in criminal court and proceed to trial. McAlister's criminal history spans 25 years, with reports indicating he had accumulated 73 felonies and 34 misdemeanors in San Francisco alone by late 2020. He was on parole for robbery when he allegedly struck Abe and Platt on December 31, 2020, while driving a stolen car and fleeing a burglary. Prior to the fatal incident, McAlister had been arrested five times in 2020 for various property and drug-related offenses but served a combined total of only 11 days in jail. The push for diversion follows a controversial plea deal brokered in March 2020 by then-District Attorney Chesa Boudin's office. This deal sentenced McAlister to time served for a 2015 robbery case, releasing him to parole after he completed his GED in jail. The handling of McAlister's case became a significant flashpoint in the successful recall campaign against Boudin. The San Francisco Drug Treatment Program aims to connect defendants with substance abuse disorders to community services, focusing on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. However, the public defender's request for McAlister, given his history and the severity of the charges, has reignited public debate about justice system reforms and accountability for repeat offenders.