Repeat offender with violent past accused of murdering woman during home invasion

A man with a long history of arrests is now accused of killing a woman during a home invasion in a quiet San Francisco neighborhood a scenario that is renewing scrutiny of California s mental-health diversion system Cassidy Wyatt Allen appeared in court Wednesday to face special-circumstance murder and first-degree burglary charges in the death of -year-old Jessica Alejandra Sanchez Landaverde The San Francisco District Attorney s Office informed the charges in a news release DA Brooke Jenkins speaking to KTVU noted Allen could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted Our hearts break for this family Jenkins explained the outlet It does not appear they had any connection to one another and so yes again this is one of the sadly the majority scariest types of crimes that we can imagine happening CALIFORNIA JUDGE FREES SECOND MURDER SUSPECT WITHOUT BAIL AS DA WARNS 'PEOPLE'S LIVES' ARE AT RISKAccording to the DA s office police were dispatched just before p m on Nov to a home on the block of Granada Avenue after a tenant returned and heard someone inside rush to the front door and lock it Terrified and alarmed she ran back to her conveyance and called the district attorney's office noted When officers arrived they saw that a window near the front door was slightly open and the blinds were bent even though the front door appeared untouched When they pushed it open they discovered Sanchez Landaverde lying on her back near the foot of the bed She was pronounced dead at the scene GRIEVING DAD SLAMS LAWMAKERS FOR CRIME POLICIES THAT FREED DAUGHTER'S SUSPECTED CAREER CRIMINAL KILLERLater that day officers responding to a welfare check near th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard located a man matching the description of a person of interest in the killing Police detained him and identified him as Allen Investigators determined they had probable cause to arrest him Allen was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder and first-degree burglary He is being held without bail according to jail records His next court date is scheduled for Dec HOUSTON THUG CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER ARRESTS SHOWS REVOLVING DOOR FAILURES GOP LAWMAKERA review of court records shows this was not his first encounter with the criminal-justice system Court records reviewed by The California Post show he previously faced arrests for second-degree robbery battery assault with a deadly weapon inflicting injury on an elder or dependent adult and possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia Allen also had a run-in with police in Del Norte County in Capt Kyle Stevens of the Del Norte County Sheriff s Office explained Fox News Digital that Allen was arrested on Jan by the Crescent City Police Department for violating Penal Code for using offensive or provocative words in masses that are likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction He was basically challenging people to a fight Stevens revealed Allen was booked into the Del Norte County Jail and distributed the same day on a promise to appear Stevens mentioned Allen never returned for a court appearance and no warrant was issued which typically indicates prosecutors declined to pursue the development Stevens emphasized that Allen was not a resident of Del Norte County and had no other law-enforcement contacts there He appeared to be a transient individual passing through the region likely continuing south toward the Bay Area after his release BLUE CITY ERUPTS AS -TIME FELON TRIES TO DODGE PRISON WEASEL INTO REHAB AFTER CRASHAt least one earlier event resulted in Allen being placed in California s mental-health diversion operation a system that steers eligible defendants into healing instead of incarceration If participants comply with medicine and avoid new arrests charges may be paused or dismissed Under Penal Code judges must determine whether a defendant s mental-health disorder significantly contributed to the offense and whether they pose an unreasonable exposure to community safety before granting diversion Critics argue the project has expanded too far sometimes encompassing defendants with violent histories Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper is among those warning that the diversion statute has become a loophole misused by chronic offenders CALIFORNIA MENTAL HEALTH' LOOPHOLE FREES KILLERS AND CROOKS WITH 'TERRIBLE LAWS ' SHERIFF WARNS There s room for diversion somewhere especially someone that has an addiction obstacle Cooper previously communicated Fox News Digital But what s happened is they open the gates wide So right now everyone s taking advantage of it A lot of criminals are They re really abusing the system and that s the unfortunate part about it While Allen s current charges special-circumstance murder and first-degree burglary are explicitly barred from diversion eligibility under state law his earlier placement into the scheme despite repeated arrests is likely to intensify debate over how judges assess jeopardy Neighbors notified KTVU they were stunned that such a violent attack occurred in their typically quiet and safe neighborhood I am saddened by it because I think our city is generally going in the right direction We ve turned the corner neighbor Rose Galloway explained Incidents like this are going to happen in a big city every once in a while I m sad to hear about it happening so close to us Neighbors described the outlet they often see a foot patrol officer along Ocean Boulevard and say the area generally feels safe I have seen this neighborhood change for the better over the years It s incredible stated Garrett Naro Crime is not something we think about It s very safe The affair is now being handled by the San Francisco District Attorney s Homicide Unit Investigators say they are still gathering evidence and urge anyone with information to contact the San Francisco Police Department tip line at - - - Fox News Digital reached out to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office for comment