A career criminal who allegedly killed two pedestrians during a New Year’s Eve rampage in San Francisco is asking a judge to allow him to enter a drug-treatment program instead of serving decades in prison, a request that has set off a firestorm of protest and debate over California’s progressive criminal justice reforms.
This is the latest development in the case of Troy McAlister, a 50-year-old on parole who is facing a slew of charges, including manslaughter, following the deadly 2020 incident. The legal push came on a Friday when McAlister’s attorney, Scott Grant, formally asked the court to grant mental-health and substance-abuse diversion. This request falls under California Penal Code §1001.36, a law that could let McAlister enter court-supervised treatment if Judge Michael Begert determines he qualifies.
