Crissy Field Killer on verge of compassionate release amid lurid sex assault and trafficking claims
The ‘trans’ prostitute imprisoned for killing his client at San Francisco’s Crissy Field in 2023 is on track for compassionate release after a court hearing today at which a judge ordered probation officials to examine halfway houses and residential programs for the inmate.
Lawyers for Leion Butler said their client had been sexually assaulted by two inmates at a federal prison in Colorado and had been “sex trafficked” in San Francisco County Jail while awaiting trial.
He should be released because he could not be protected while incarcerated, they argued.
Butler, 22, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in March 2025 after shooting Hamza Walapupu and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
Both prosecution and defense are currently appealing the sentence.
In motions filed ahead of today’s hearing, government attorneys decried prison assaults but said it appeared Butler willingly engaged in sexual acts, said as much to friends in jailhouse calls, and missed several opportunities to raise any concerns with correctional staff.
In one call made after the alleged attacks, they said, he claimed his cellmate threatened to beat him up, but did not do so, because he was upset “because I stopped having sex with him”.
“Releasing Butler now,” wrote assistant U.S. attorney George Hageman, “a mere 2.5 years after [he] shot H.W. in the face after an argument over having to walk home in the cold, after [he] has served barely over 50% of a sentence issued only six months ago, after [he] has served approximately 33% of the low end of the guidelines range, and after [he] has served only 20% of the average JSIN sentence – would not afford adequate deterrence or avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities.”
He continued to be dangerous and should not be released, he added.
The court also heard that Hamza Walapupu’s family strongly opposed Butler’s release and had written a letter to the judge to that effect.
In a defense motion in favor of release, Butler’s attorney David Rizk also claimed his client had been “sex trafficked” while being held at San Francisco County Jail.
This related to a disclosure made by Butler to Bureau of Prisons staff on December 19 2025.
“[…] Butler reported [he] was paid for sexual activity by another inmate at the county jail. [He] reported [he] initially thought it was ‘consensual’ but realized [he] was “sexually and mentally used,” wrote a BOP counsellor.
At a videoconference hearing today U.S. District Judge Susan Illston appeared sympathetic to Butler’s release bid, and discussed in detail potential release options with attorneys.
The court heard a defense proposal that Butler go to the women’s unit of a halfway house while waiting to enter ‘San Francisco Safe House’ – a residential shelter for woman who have suffered sexual violence – where he might be able to stay long term.
Probation officer Kevin Maynor also told the court that Baker’s Place program in San Francisco might house Butler, but only for a three month period.
“If I had my druthers,” said the judge, “I’d druther that it would be a longer program than that.”
“I was attracted to the idea, that I believe I read in some of your papers, that it was a 24 month program. I think, in my own mind, that that would be better.”
Illston told attorneys to come back to court on May 15 with more details on those programs.
The discussion did not touch on the propriety of installing a highly volatile HIV-positive anatomical male into an residential environment with female survivors of sexual violence.
Because an appeal is pending in the case, it appears any decision by the judge to release Butler would, technically, need the approval of the appeal court.
A spokeswoman for San Francisco Sheriff’s Office did not respond to inquiries about the trafficking allegation, the office’s sexual assault prevention practices, or whether steps would be taken to advise inmates with whom Butler had intimate contact of his HIV-positive status.
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