Los Angeles County / Alternate Public Defender
Agency file
The Alternate Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.
In 2025, this agency had 361 employees with median total compensation of $227,420; the highest distinct record was $682,087.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 361 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($227,420) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.
What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.
The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $384,080 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $90,018. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).
The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.
Record list
Highest-paid first / page 6
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Sabrina Harowitz serves as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $203,365.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Alternate Public Defender
Douglas Theus works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Alternate Public Defender. Douglas earned $202,580 in 2025.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender IV/Alternate Public Defender
Irma Vargas works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender IV for Alternate Public Defender. Irma earned $202,118 in 2025.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Alternate Public Defender
Lewis Velken is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $201,862.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Balbir Bassan holds the role of Deputy Alternate Public Defender III at Alternate Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $201,177.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Eliana Eitches serves as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $200,079.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Melissa Austen is a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $198,651.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Derek Kawai serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $197,912.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Joanna Martin holds the role of Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $197,607.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Keila Magana Contreras works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender III for Alternate Public Defender. Keila earned $196,775 in 2025.
Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Carolee Matias serves as a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor. Their 2025 pay totaled $194,061.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Alternate Public Defender
Erica Weathersbee is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $193,962.
Senior Information Systems Analyst/Alternate Public Defender
Rosa Garcia is a Senior Information Systems Analyst at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $193,428.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Marianna Petrosian serves as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $193,045.
Supervising Paralegal/Alternate Public Defender
Rosa Martinez holds the role of Supervising Paralegal at Alternate Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $192,270.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Nina Martinez works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender III for Alternate Public Defender. Nina earned $192,253 in 2025.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Lindsey Thompson works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender III for Alternate Public Defender. Lindsey earned $192,229 in 2025.
Information Technology Technician Support Supervisor/Alternate Public Defender
Amer Alliftawi works as a Information Technology Technician Support Supervisor for Alternate Public Defender. Amer earned $192,213 in 2025.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Margaret Gaffney works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender III for Alternate Public Defender. Margaret earned $190,311 in 2025.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender IV/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Maxwell Wright serves as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $189,135.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Kendall Lawrenz works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II for Alternate Public Defender. Kendall earned $186,893 in 2025.
Supervising Paralegal/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Lucia Olvera serves as a Supervising Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $186,194.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Jovana Torres is a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $185,128.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Sav Fimbres is a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $184,695.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Vivian Kim serves as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $184,510.
Supervising Paralegal/Alternate Public Defender
Leticia Garcia works as a Supervising Paralegal for Alternate Public Defender. Leticia earned $184,228 in 2025.
Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Alternate Public Defender
Jessica Weinhold works as a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor for Alternate Public Defender. Jessica earned $184,037 in 2025.
Supervising Paralegal/Alternate Public Defender
Rosanna Anaya is a Supervising Paralegal at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $182,884.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender IV/Alternate Public Defender
Anthony Rayburn works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender IV for Alternate Public Defender. Anthony earned $182,302 in 2025.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
David Schwartz holds the role of Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $179,933.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Emily Goldstein is a Deputy Alternate Public Defender III at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $178,679.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Natasha Pulido holds the role of Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $177,704.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Gabriel Durkin-White serves as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $176,368.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, John Navarrette serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $174,906.
Administrative Services Manager I/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Beatriz Cobian serves as a Administrative Services Manager I. Their 2025 pay totaled $173,615.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender III/Alternate Public Defender
Michael Patterson holds the role of Deputy Alternate Public Defender III at Alternate Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $172,801.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Kole Oswald works as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II for Alternate Public Defender. Kole earned $172,751 in 2025.
Deputy Alternate Public Defender II/Alternate Public Defender
Samantha Escobar Castellon is a Deputy Alternate Public Defender II at Alternate Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $172,618.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Alternate Public Defender
George Mendoza works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Alternate Public Defender. George earned $171,931 in 2025.
Senior Paralegal/Alternate Public Defender
At Alternate Public Defender, Albert Arreguin serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $169,443.