SF DA Office Accepts Plea Deal for Troy McAlister Over Hiroko Abe’s Objections

It is a matter of trust when those who are tasked with upholding the law don’t live up to their own promises, Hiroko Abe said through her translator in an exclusive interview with thevoicesf.org.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office accepted a plea deal for Troy McAlister, the driver who struck and killed 27-year-old Hanako Abe and 60-year-old Elizabeth Platt on New Year’s Eve 2020, over the written objections of victim Hanako Abe’s mother, thevoicesf.org reported.

The New Year’s Eve Crash and Prior Offenses

On December 31, 2020, Troy McAlister was high on methamphetamine when he crashed into another car at Second and Mission Streets in San Francisco, striking the two women in a crosswalk. McAlister fled the scene and hid in a nearby building, where police arrested him and subsequently discovered meth and a gun in the vehicle. At the time of the fatal crash, McAlister had accumulated more than 70 felonies and 34 misdemeanors in San Francisco alone.

The Plea Agreement Negotiations

On October 5, 2026, Kourtney Bell, an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Homicide Unit, held a Zoom call with Hiroko Abe, located in Japan, and Tasha Yorozu, a volunteer attorney translating for her. Bell informed Mrs. Abe that McAlister’s public defender had offered to resolve the criminal matter in People v. McAlister. The offer included pleading to two counts of Penal Code section 191.5 for Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated, along with an admission of his prior strike offense, in exchange for a 20-year sentence in state prison.

Bell stated during the call that the 20-year sentence would not necessarily equate to 20 years in custody due to California’s sentencing rules and custody credits. With nearly seven years already served in San Francisco County Jail awaiting trial, alongside good behavior credits, McAlister could potentially walk free in less than seven years.

In a follow-up email, Bell memorialized the offer and asked to know before the following morning’s hearing whether the District Attorney’s Office should accept it. At 9:30 a.m. on October 6, Mrs. Abe emailed Bell to object to the plea deal, writing that releasing a criminal with over a hundred offenses so quickly prevents residents from feeling safe and arguing that a jury trial should serve as a warning to wrongdoers.

The Decision to Accept the Deal

The October 6 hearing before Superior Court Judge Eric Fleming in Department 26 was postponed to 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 8. This postponement allowed Mrs. Abe time to draft a detailed letter opposing the agreement. However, at around 7 p.m. on October 7, Mrs. Abe received an unexpected email from Bell stating that the District Attorney’s Office had decided to accept the deal.

The accepted terms included admitting guilt to both counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, admitting the prior strike conviction, waiving appellate rights, and issuing an apology on the record at sentencing. Bell explained in the email that although the outcome might not be what the family wanted, the office evaluated the case and believed the resolution represented an appropriate measure of accountability.

The Written Objections Submitted to the Court

Mrs. Abe finished her thorough letter of objection and sent it to Bell that evening, requesting that her opposition be communicated to all involved and made part of the record. In her letter, Mrs. Abe emphasized that her opposition was not about retribution or securing a specific number of years in prison, but rather about achieving four broader objectives:

• Invoking meaningful reflection and accountability for wrongdoers to prevent future tragedies.
• Allowing the people of San Francisco to weigh the evidence and express community judgment through a jury.

The October 8 Court Hearing

During the October 8 hearing, which Alison Platt, the sister of victim Elizabeth Platt, attended via Zoom, Judge Fleming acknowledged receipt of Mrs. Abe’s letter via translator Yorozu. Judge Fleming stated that he reviewed the letter and understood that Mrs. Abe opposed the plea for justice rather than retribution.

My position is not motivated by retribution, nor is it simply about obtaining the longest possible prison sentence. Hanako loved San Francisco and was proud to call it her home. She wanted it to be a safe and beautiful city where individuals, couples, and families could walk freely and enjoy their community. My request for a trial is grounded in justice for Hanako and Ms. Platt.

Hiroko Abe