The day before Alan Elizalde was supposed to finish the first phase of his substance-use treatment program in San Francisco, his attorney received a four-sentence letter.
The 19-year-old, an intake coordinator wrote, was being removed for “behaviors detrimental to the program” and “non-compliance with program rules and expectations.” Elizalde wasn’t “discharged for substance use,” another letter sent five days later added.
Over the six months that he was in the residential program, court records show that Elizalde always appeared for his status hearings, another condition of the plea deal the accused armed robber had accepted in the face of serious felony charges.
Those charges came after an alleged Jan. 8, 2024, crime spree in which Elizalde allegedly stole an iPhone in downtown San Francisco, attempted to take a Lexus from a 70-year-old, carjacked another person’s BMW, and bought a stolen Hyundai Sonata, all while armed with an unregistered semi-automatic pistol. At the time, he had issues with addiction.
Once in treatment, Superior Court Judge Patrick Thompson observed at a hearing in late June, Elizalde began “making progress” toward sobriety.
Elizalde acknowledges that he did break the treatment program’s rules. Twice. Cell phones aren’t allowed. Nevertheless, he had one, and used it to call his family and check on the woman pregnant with his daughter, he said. And then the final straw: On a friend’s behalf, Elizalde delivered notes to a girl in another unit.
Elizalde was “fraternizing” and “passing letters,” the 19-year-old’s attorney was told. The notes, Elizalde recalled, contained communiques like “What are you doing?” and “How’s your day?”
The teenager’s infractions came with severe consequences. The plea deal he’d agreed to six months earlier had stipulated that if he successfully completed an alternative sentencing program, he would only have to serve five years for a robbery charge. If not, he could be sentenced to 12 years in prison without a trial.
Elizalde’s case — which is unfolding in a city that wants to both get tougher on crime and put substance recovery first — raises questions about how many second chances San Francisco is willing to offer.
To some, it offers a window into how even minor mistakes can upend a “generous” opportunity. To his family and advocates, it calls into question what “justice” should look like.
An alternative sentence
Elizalde, then an 18-year-old high school senior, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2024, for a string of crimes while out on bail, the May 21, 2024, district attorney’s complaint alleges. Just a month earlier, in December 2023, he had been charged with a felony property offense in Solano County.
Police released Elizalde as they conducted an investigation, his attorney, Ivan Rodriguez, said. Four months later, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged him with seven felony counts related to robbery, carjacking, and carrying a firearm for the Jan. 8 incidents.
Elizalde faced serious allegations at a time when many San Franciscans wanted to see the city prioritize public safety. Mayoral candidates were running on pledges to get tough on crime. Jenkins had reversed an eight-year decline in convictions and halted restorative justice programs for adults.
At the same time, residents confronted with drug use on their sidewalks and in their own families understood the devastating impact of substance-use disorders. Neighbors, politicians, and organizations advocated for a focus on recovery, something Elizalde and his mother are the first to say he needed.
Elizalde started using different substances when he was 16. It was a hard time, he said quietly, and this allowed him to at least feel “numb” from a life of upheaval.
In Elizalde’s 19 years, his family had moved from Martinez, where he was born, to Concord, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, American Canyon, and Fairfield. They lived in some “bad areas,” Elizalde said.
Elizalde was three years old when his father began serving a lengthy prison sentence in 2008, and the following year the family’s house burned down. His mother, Vanessa Ferriera, supported three boys on her own by working at a dental office and a movie theater.
At the time he was arrested for the alleged San Francisco crimes, the family lived in Suisun City, and the mother of Elizalde’s first child was pregnant in Vacaville.
When San Francisco Deputy District Attorney Megan Wang offered to refer Elizalde to an alternative sentencing program, the teenager took the opportunity.
“I wanted to change my life, change my criminal thinking and my substance abuse,” he said.
Elizalde spoke to Samantha Roberts, a case manager at the DA’s office, about his struggles with addiction. She helped him craft a treatment plan that could be completed in lieu of a trial and prison time, the defense attorney, Rodriguez, said.
Then, Rodriguez said, the DA’s office reneged on the offer.
Wang, who was hired under Jenkins’ progressive predecessor Chesa Boudin, moved off the case. Rodriguez said that Elliott Brooks, the new deputy district attorney on the case, and her supervisor, Amilcar “Butch” Ford, decided that Elizalde would only be allowed to participate in the alternative program if he agreed to go to prison after completion. (Ford was a prominent supporter of Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price’s recall before joining the San Francisco office, and was one of those considered to replace her.)
In San Francisco Superior Court, before Judge Thompson, the attorneys came to a new deal in October 2024. Elizalde, who had remained in jail throughout this time, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery with a firearm, which carries a 12-year sentence.
If he successfully completed the alternative program, came into court for check-ins, and was not arrested again, his 12-year sentence would be reduced to a five-year sentence. If not, he would go straight to prison.
Several legal professionals said they were surprised to hear of a deal that involved both alternative programming and a prison sentence. They suggested the reason could be the severity of the allegations against Elizalde. Three, however, said that inviting someone to get better in treatment and then sending them to prison “makes no sense.”
A chance at recovery
Nevertheless, as agreed, Elizalde began his recovery journey a few days after the Oct. 15 hearing at Billie Holiday, a transitional center in SoMa. He then moved to Harbor Lights, a city-funded treatment program run by the Salvation Army, on Dec. 6, 2024.
Elizalde spent his days attending therapy groups, classes, and Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. He also took frequent urine analysis tests on demand. Still, both Elizalde and the DA’s office reported bumps along the way.
Brooks was notified of “another instance of improper conduct and rule violations” at Harbor Lights on Feb. 11, 2025, according to court documents. It’s unclear what the previous incident that reportedly took place at Billie Holiday had been. The DA’s office declined to comment. But the Feb. 11 incident was Elizalde having an unauthorized cell phone.
Adrian Maldonado, the director of Harbor Lights, let the DA’s case manager know that this was Elizalde’s “last opportunity.” He also noted Elizalde’s desire to see his child — Elizalde said he’d been using his phone to call family — and said he would set up a meeting.
He got two visits with family over the six months he was at Harbor Lights, but that was not enough “for me to mentally go through this program and not want to leave,” Elizalde said.
Despite his feelings of isolation, he stuck it out. Then, on June 5, 2025, one day before finishing the first six-month phase of the program, Elizalde said he was confronted with the notes he’d passed along to the other participant. He was immediately kicked out of Harbor Lights.
Rodriguez wrote to the court that the program’s director told him “he would have graduated Mr. Elizalde, but that his superiors wanted Mr. Elizalde discharged.” Maldonado, the director, said he could not speak about a former client without a release.
In court, the DA’s office said it had no issue with the defense’s explanation of Elizalde’s removal for using his cell phone and passing letters.
Elizalde returned home the day of his expulsion, frantic. “He was doing so well,” his stepfather, Abel Madrigal, remembered. “They had to throw a monkey wrench overnight.”
Seeing his family that night kept him motivated, Elizalde said. “I wasn’t done with my recovery.”
At first, little changed. The following day, on June 6, Rodriguez said, Elizalde checked himself back into the transitional Billie Holiday program he’d started at. Shortly after, he was transferred to Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention, TRP, a residential treatment program managed by Westside Community Services.
But on June 18, with Elizalde still in treatment, the DA filed a motion to sentence him to 12 years in state prison. Prosecutors were sticking to the original plea agreement, and their belief that Elizalde had failed to fulfill it despite their “leniency.”
On June 24, Rodriguez asked the court to allow Elizalde to continue his alternative sentencing program at TRP. “If every person who was participating in a treatment program was punished as such for having setbacks during their recovery, treatment would be impossible,” he wrote.
Elizalde stayed at TRP until June 26, when he was set to return to court.
Starting over
On that day, Elizalde appeared before Judge Thompson in a black hoodie and jeans that hung around his slight frame. After a hearing on the DA’s motion, Elizalde would either return to treatment, go back to jail, or find himself starting over again with the trial process.
Elizalde’s family awaited a decision in the hallway. Ferriera, his mother, asked for advice on how to breathe, and his stepfather gripped her hand. Elizalde leaned his head against the courthouse marble beside his parents, his eyes red. Then the bailiff signaled for everyone to return to the courtroom.
Judge Thompson denied the DA’s motion to impose a sentence, and said Elizalde had “materially complied” with the “core terms” of his alternative sentencing program. He was not going back to jail. But Elizalde’s initial agreement, which stipulated that he go specifically to Harbor Lights, was withdrawn.
Elizalde, once again, faces seven felony charges. He’s been temporarily released under the supervision of pretrial diversion, which allows him to stay in treatment while awaiting trial or a new plea deal.
If he goes to trial and is convicted on multiple counts this time, he could face a prison sentence far longer than 12 years.
While they wait, his family is struggling to understand what went wrong.
“The system has failed us,” Ferriera said. “Instead of guiding him the correct way, they just keep digging him in the hole.”
Armed robbery, kidnapping, etc..a real angel..he was actually lucky to enter that program; it is not like he was at the point where his drug use was taking over his life, being passed out at a street corner; he was still functional and committing violent crimes. sorry Pal but you are going to have to do the time; Time to stop being naive and think that everyone can be an angel.And on top” the system has failed us”..the nerve…always blaming others, never taking responsibilities.
Yes, I’m stuck on the fact that he allegedly committed a felony, had been arrested for it and, after he was released on bail he allegedly went from bad to worse, commiting a string of felonies with a firearm and involving the public at large, while he was still abusing drugs. Now, we are hearing that he’s been working so hard at recovery, and we as a community and a society will be letting him down and failing him if we hold him accountable for his alleges crimes?
He did some serious crimes and got a second chance which he squandered unfortunately. If he can’t follow the simple rules set forth which he agreed to then what are the chances he can follow societal rules? He got a second chance by going to rehab to reduce his sentence by 7 years which is quite generous already. He was a terror and caused a bunch of mayhem to his victims so let’s not forget that. He lucky he got caught before he was able to cause more serious harm maybe death as he was armed. Hope he now learns that rules are rules regardless of how insignificant HE thinks they are.
There used to be a joke about a guy who murders his parents and when he appears before a judge he asks for leniency based on the idea that he’s an orphan; in this case, an alleged car jacking, gun wielding, drug addicted, kidnapper seeks leniency, explaining to the judge that he came from a bad neighborhood…
It’s apparent that Alan Elizalde and his family do not take responsibility for their actions. The stepfather blamed the “monkey wrench” on the system rather than on the person who broke the rules.
Ferreira blames “the system” for failing them.
There’s no mention at all of the surely great trauma suffered by the victims of Elizalde’s crimes.
In fact, “the system” gave him a second, chance, third chance, etc. This young man was failed by his irresponsible father and poor upbringing that did not teach him right from wrong, and by himself for not taking seriously the compassionate chances that “the system” granted to him in the first place.
How dishonest can a headline on ML get? Dude’s going to prison for “a string of armed robberies and car jackings with a semi-automatic weapon!” And his crimes were happening WHILE he was out on parole for OTHER crimes! He has proven he can’t be trusted to live among civilized people without hurting them. It’s a terrible waste of tax dollars, but the reason is him, not his “letter writing.” It’s fine to be opposed to putting in prison for hurting innocent people, but it’s just plain dishonest to make stuff up to advance that agenda.
This is a very irresponsible story. The reporter needed to do much more research on the stipulations of alternative sentencing. Felons can’t pick and choose their conditions of treatment and you either follow the reasonable, clear rules which they agree to or you receive the clear consequences which they are well aware of. Shame on the sloppy research, defense attorney and paper for publishing a one sided view and not giving any consideration for the victims of this young, aggressive criminal’s actions. Alternative sentencing is an OPPORTUNITY to understand true consequences of harmful, dangerous behavior toward others, making pro social choices and turning your life around so you can be a productive and responsible member of society. It’s not just about him. This young man received PLENTY of chances with a well thought out plan and he was given lots of tax dollar professional support and he still kept selfishly screwing up.
I hope those very minor lapses don’t upend his deal, but ML’s reporting tends to diminish my sympathy for anyone it paints as a victim. His crime spree was serious and beyond what might be reasonable for a full rehab-in-lieu-of-confinement trade – he needs to do some prison time. Depending upon the terms of his deal, he may get time off with good conduct credits.
SF had become a property crime cesspool, consistently ranking in the top 5 highest property crime rates of cities in the US with over 100,000 residents. That changed when Brooke Jenkins became the DA, and I strongly suspect that that’s a causative component of the drop. Yes, property crime rates dropped almost everywhere, but they dropped more in SF compared to other cities.
It’s truly enough already with the excuses and light touches on serious offenders.
“The system has failed us,”
You got to be kidding! Car jacking, theft, armed robbery, stolen car, unregistered gun, prior felony…..did I leave anything out…..drug use. A fine set of achievements by age 19.
And the system that YOU failed was a tax payer funded residential treatment program. Now spend some time in a tax payer funded prison so someone else can have a chance at the treatment program.
12 years is hard time…this is no light weight kid mistreated by the legal system.
Hard to have sympathy for this guy. His crimes were heinous. How many other crimes did he commit that he wasn’t caught for?
He knew the rules and broke them. He took the risk knowing that it could give him 7 more years in prison. He’s not mentally ill. Sad situation….
Thanks for reporting.
There should be zero second chances
If that was the law and plan , then addicts would be aware .
Second third or more chances is gaming and manipulation for persons who
need to stop
And not know they will get a break.
In countries with no second chances very few take drugs.
The system does fail people. Should it be relied on to guide the youth? Nope. Sounds like their parenting failed to guide this kid.
“While they wait, his family is struggling to understand what went wrong.”
It’s not WHAT went wrong, it’s WHO went wrong. That’s not the Law’s fault.
OMG – The system has failed us! It’s not the fact that he had multiple chances to redeem himself and prove that he can follow and obey the rules and yet he REFUSED to do so. Enforce the law!
Boo hoo. Poor guy.
Nice to do the crime. Not so nice when you have to pay for it.
He did some serious crimes and got a second chance which he squandered unfortunately. If he can’t follow the simple rules set forth which he agreed to then what are the chances he can follow societal rules? He got a second chance by going to rehab to reduce his sentence by 7 years which is quite generous already. He was a terror and caused a bunch of mayhem to his victims so let’s not forget that. He lucky he got caught before he was able to cause more serious harm maybe death. Hope he now learns that rules are rules regardless of how insignificant he thinks they are.
Sounds like this guy is in an extremely serious situation but refuses to take things seriously. And of course now he has a kid he won’t be able to provide for any time soon.
This story also highlights the generational cycle of crime and suffering that the U.S. punishment focused culture creates. There is a lot of research and successful alternatives, but people are only familiar with punishment.
The kid — and he is a kid — should not have broken the rules, ridiculous as they were, because the alternative is far, far worse. But since when does isolation from family and friends — even by phone calls — make for better chances at recovery? Maybe in some cases, it’s the better plan, because maybe the family and friends are part of the problem. But there’s no evidence that that’s the case here.
What’s really sad is that this guy’s kids are going to have the same experience he had, and they’re going to continue the cycle, because they’re also going to grow up to unstable parents without a lot of money or resources. Just like he did.
Harbor Lights is a Salvation Army program. They do not have a history of clinical treatment, but a faith-based work and behavior modification model. They have also been noted for anti-queer policies. Their focus on Christian belief as a “cure” for serious substance use is debatable at best. “Group therapy” is not group psychotherapy as a licensed psychologist would practice it. It varies widely. Conformity will guarantee your completion, but may not help your problem. If he can find more suitable treatment, there may be better results. Also, cultural fit is a consideration. For example, La Familia, Horizons are other programs that work with Latinx young men.
Honestly, the minor rule infractions will not make or break someone’s battle with substances. But going to prison will change their life forever.
good luck on trying to sort this complex – likely not unusual – problem. We all need all the help that works – or begins to work – that you can work out.
Norma
Is the moral of the story that “ The system has failed us … Instead of guiding him the correct way, they just keep digging him in the hole” ? For me, the crucial quote in this vivid and balanced story is “If every person who was participating in a treatment program was punished as such for having setbacks during their recovery, treatment would be impossible,”
His initial crime was really scary and it’s hard to forget those details. But I don’t understand why they punish people in the extreme for something silly once they’re in the leniency program. It’s really weird and obviously is going to make people doubt the coherence of any of this.
Thank you Mission Local and Ms.Abigail Bank Neely for this moving and sensitive report of how this young man….has gone thru so much trauma in his life…..but yet the system doesn’t even scratch the surface of his life….maybe if his name was John Smith he would not gone thru tiny upsets…that the system sets up….I want to know what happened to this young man…..I am my not trying to be critical but it is obvious that his mom did not have the skills for a son that had trauma and addiction and mental issues to handle not did his step dad….
Your take: “c’mon, he only had seven felonies!”
((and he was getting a deal where he’d only go to jail for less than 6 months for each one.))