DA drops body armor charges against Orange County resident Michael Alvarez

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office dismissed felony body armor charges against Michael Angel Alvarez on Wednesday. Alvarez received a sentence of time served for a lesser probation violation. He had spent more than 100 days in jail earlier this year while waiting for the trial.

Alvarez was working as a city-contracted peace ambassador in MacArthur Park when federal agents arrested him in May. Both federal and county prosecutors initially filed felony charges. They alleged he possessed body armor as a violent felon. His arrest drew attention because of his job and his criminal history.

Bill Essayli, who leads the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, used the case to criticize city officials. He posted on social media that taxpayer money was being sent to a convicted gang murderer. Federal prosecutors also claimed in court documents that Alvarez was leading a violent street gang while claiming to be a gang interventionist. They have not filed charges related to those specific claims.

Judges in both federal and state court have now thrown out the felony charges. U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang ruled on Sept. 9 that Alvarez did not have a violent felony conviction. He was 15 when he committed a gang-related murder. He was tried and convicted as an adult in 2002.

A change in state law later raised the age at which minors could be sentenced as adults to 16. Alvarez’s case went back to juvenile court. He was released in 2024 after serving more than 20 years.

The dismissal resolves the local felony case against the former peace ambassador. The federal charges were also dismissed following the judge’s ruling.