Sex-with-minor suspect previously focus of homicide probe in SF

Further details are emerging in the case of Javonn Allen – presently in custody in San Francisco accused of ‘unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor’ and parole violations. Allen appeared today in Department 10 of SF Superior Court.

It now appears that Allen was previously suspected of involvement in the death of 16-year-old Victorria Moran-Hidalgo. The teenage runaway’s partially undressed body was left on a SOMA sidewalk where she was found at 6:30am on February 18, 2022.

As part of an attempt to have the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office recused from the current case, public defender Elizabeth Camacho told the court that the D.A. had been unable to file homicide charges against her client because of insufficiency of evidence.

She claims that Assistant District Attorney Brad Allred – in what is implied to be a vendetta – told colleagues and investigators to “make this case” – unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor – against Allen.

In addition to requesting that the D.A.’s office be recused, the defense is requesting extensive discovery. An earlier hearing heard that they wanted production of communications to, from and between SFPD homicide detectives Mark Lee and Sgt. Kevin Wong relating to Mr Allen.

Judge Victor Hwang ordered a hearing on the motion to recuse to take place on May 24. The California Attorney General was represented at today’s hearing by Sharon Loughner – the first time the AG has been in court on Mr Allen’s current matter.

Allen first came to the at­ten­tion of po­lice in 2015 when ar­rested for at­tempt­ing to kid­nap school­girls at An­ti­och’s Deer Val­ley High School  – man­han­dling one stu­dent and at­tempt­ing to force her in to his car.

In the years since he has been ar­rested for crimes in­clud­ing forcible rape, dis­charg­ing a firearm and child en­dan­ger­ment. In Feb­ru­ary 2023 he was ar­rested for spousal bat­tery and pa­role vi­o­la­tions, ap­pear­ing in Su­pe­rior Court that month in De­part­ment 18 (‘Do­mes­tic Vi­o­lence Court’).

The District Attorney’s office has been approached for comment.

SFPD has not re­sponded to re­quests for in­for­ma­tion re­lat­ing to Al­len’s ar­rest.

At a previous hearing on May 5, Ms Camacho told the court that she would be submitting “a release plan” for her client.

The case continues.

Update May 24 After argument today, Judge Victor Hwang indicated that he was inclined not to order the recusal of the entire District Attorney’s Office but wanted the benefit of reassurances with respect to a particular Assistant District Attorney, Armando Miranda. Mr Miranda previously represented the defendant while he, Miranda, was employed in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. A “proper firewall” should be established between Mr Miranda and others in the D.A.’s office, it was said.

On behalf of Mr Allen, Elizabeth Camacho, pressed for a full recusal of the entire office. “A retroactive firewall when they had a year to institute one?” she asked rhetorically.

The judge will make a final decision on Friday May 26 at 9:00am. Mr Allen will also be arraigned at that hearing. It appears the defense will make a bail application at the same time.

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