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Los Angeles County / Public Defender

Agency file

Public Defender

Source file: Los Angeles County — Employee Salaries (Auditor-Controller) / ingested Jun 19, 2026

The Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2025, this agency had 1,297 employees with median total compensation of $178,093; the highest distinct record was $714,318.

Year
2025
Total payroll
$257.8M
Employees
1,297
Median total
$178,093
Highest record
$714,318

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 1,297 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($178,093) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

  • Base$123,123 (62%)
  • Overtime$343 (0%)
  • Other$12,168 (6%)
  • Benefits$63,124 (32%)

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.

Pay percentiles

10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
$55,488
$121,524
$178,093
$290,928
$346,409

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $346,409 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $55,488. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

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

Employees

Page 1

Xochitl Telaya Rodriguez

Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$200,676
Base pay
$134,016
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$15,071
Benefits
$51,589
Total compensation
$200,676

Xochitl Telaya Rodriguez works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Xochitl earned $200,676 in 2025.

Peter Higgins

Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$200,485
Base pay
$134,715
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,285
Benefits
$60,485
Total compensation
$200,485

Peter Higgins is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $200,485.

Michelle Pujol

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$200,304
Base pay
$126,720
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$8,101
Benefits
$65,483
Total compensation
$200,304

Michelle Pujol works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Michelle earned $200,304 in 2025.

Roberto Garcia

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$200,167
Base pay
$126,456
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$14,238
Benefits
$59,473
Total compensation
$200,167

At Public Defender, Roberto Garcia serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $200,167.

Emily Wingett

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$199,433
Base pay
$125,271
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$9,832
Benefits
$64,330
Total compensation
$199,433

Emily Wingett is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $199,433.

Nancy Davis

Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$199,430
Base pay
$123,778
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,361
Benefits
$70,291
Total compensation
$199,430

Nancy Davis is a Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $199,430.

Rakesh Gade

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$197,565
Base pay
$120,655
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$6,775
Benefits
$70,135
Total compensation
$197,565

Rakesh Gade works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Rakesh earned $197,565 in 2025.

Andy Zhou

Senior IT Technical Support Analyst/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$196,742
Base pay
$115,354
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$13,409
Benefits
$67,979
Total compensation
$196,742

Andy Zhou is a Senior IT Technical Support Analyst at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $196,742.

Asha Mehrotra

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$196,710
Base pay
$127,803
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$10,392
Benefits
$58,515
Total compensation
$196,710

Asha Mehrotra works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Asha earned $196,710 in 2025.

Tiffany Wood

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$195,302
Base pay
$125,013
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$11,378
Benefits
$58,911
Total compensation
$195,302

Tiffany Wood works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Tiffany earned $195,302 in 2025.

Ana Garcia-Contreras

Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$195,295
Base pay
$124,859
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$1,885
Benefits
$68,551
Total compensation
$195,295

Ana Garcia-Contreras holds the role of Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $195,295.

Rachel Hall

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$195,080
Base pay
$129,116
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$10,816
Benefits
$55,148
Total compensation
$195,080

At Public Defender, Rachel Hall serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $195,080.

Alison Seeger

Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$195,011
Base pay
$125,449
Overtime
$1,685
Other pay
$879
Benefits
$66,998
Total compensation
$195,011

At Public Defender, Alison Seeger serves as a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor. Their 2025 pay totaled $195,011.

Luke Rodriguez

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$194,730
Base pay
$124,285
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$12,784
Benefits
$57,661
Total compensation
$194,730

At Public Defender, Luke Rodriguez serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $194,730.

Mohamed Marhaba

Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$193,538
Base pay
$142,717
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$8,142
Benefits
$42,679
Total compensation
$193,538

Mohamed Marhaba works as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender for Public Defender. Mohamed earned $193,538 in 2025.

Prasanthi Sirimalla

Senior Application Developer/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$193,421
Base pay
$119,267
Overtime
$3,579
Other pay
$4,999
Benefits
$65,576
Total compensation
$193,421

Prasanthi Sirimalla works as a Senior Application Developer for Public Defender. Prasanthi earned $193,421 in 2025.

Imran Syed

Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$193,394
Base pay
$110,152
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$4,698
Benefits
$78,544
Total compensation
$193,394

Imran Syed holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $193,394.

Nazanin Mani

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$193,373
Base pay
$102,078
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$500
Benefits
$90,795
Total compensation
$193,373

Nazanin Mani is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $193,373.

Katty Yasharal

Senior Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$193,186
Base pay
$100,380
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,000
Benefits
$87,806
Total compensation
$193,186

Katty Yasharal works as a Senior Paralegal for Public Defender. Katty earned $193,186 in 2025.

Yeongeon Oh

Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$192,973
Base pay
$129,265
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$51
Benefits
$63,657
Total compensation
$192,973

Yeongeon Oh is a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $192,973.

Dominique Brown

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$191,943
Base pay
$127,803
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$6,103
Benefits
$58,037
Total compensation
$191,943

Dominique Brown is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $191,943.

Sheryl Callos

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$191,862
Base pay
$124,285
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$8,519
Benefits
$59,058
Total compensation
$191,862

Sheryl Callos is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $191,862.

Marcus Gregoire Williams

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$191,411
Base pay
$128,982
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$14,472
Benefits
$47,957
Total compensation
$191,411

Marcus Gregoire Williams works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Marcus earned $191,411 in 2025.

Jack Serrano

Senior Application Developer/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$190,936
Base pay
$127,463
Overtime
$3,727
Other pay
$7,779
Benefits
$51,967
Total compensation
$190,936

At Public Defender, Jack Serrano serves as a Senior Application Developer. Their 2025 pay totaled $190,936.

Molly Thornton

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$190,044
Base pay
$120,655
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$3,836
Benefits
$65,553
Total compensation
$190,044

Molly Thornton is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $190,044.

Justin Kelley

Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$190,017
Base pay
$113,225
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$4,274
Benefits
$72,518
Total compensation
$190,017

At Public Defender, Justin Kelley serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $190,017.

Magaly Rubio

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$189,178
Base pay
$124,507
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$11,159
Benefits
$53,512
Total compensation
$189,178

Magaly Rubio holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $189,178.

Daniel Cooper

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$189,096
Base pay
$117,530
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$9,286
Benefits
$62,280
Total compensation
$189,096

At Public Defender, Daniel Cooper serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $189,096.

Yuhao Yao

Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$188,787
Base pay
$110,846
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$3,531
Benefits
$74,410
Total compensation
$188,787

Yuhao Yao works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Yuhao earned $188,787 in 2025.

Gloria Gochez

Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$188,640
Base pay
$129,265
Overtime
$466
Other pay
$1,808
Benefits
$57,101
Total compensation
$188,640

At Public Defender, Gloria Gochez serves as a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor. Their 2025 pay totaled $188,640.

Mary-Alice Burns

Supervising Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$188,330
Base pay
$112,272
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$7,192
Benefits
$68,866
Total compensation
$188,330

Mary-Alice Burns holds the role of Supervising Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $188,330.

Maxwell Owachgiu

Safety Officer I/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$188,104
Base pay
$109,519
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$9,122
Benefits
$69,463
Total compensation
$188,104

At Public Defender, Maxwell Owachgiu serves as a Safety Officer I. Their 2025 pay totaled $188,104.

Rosemary Lopez

Senior Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$187,775
Base pay
$100,640
Overtime
$6,485
Other pay
$6,200
Benefits
$74,450
Total compensation
$187,775

Rosemary Lopez holds the role of Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $187,775.

Constantinos Tsoucalas

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$187,495
Base pay
$120,655
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$6,119
Benefits
$60,721
Total compensation
$187,495

At Public Defender, Constantinos Tsoucalas serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $187,495.

Sylvia Regalado

Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$187,238
Base pay
$121,625
Overtime
$5,273
Other pay
$7,908
Benefits
$52,432
Total compensation
$187,238

At Public Defender, Sylvia Regalado serves as a Investigator Ii,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $187,238.

Hendrika Snoek

Supervising Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$186,905
Base pay
$112,272
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$10,548
Benefits
$64,085
Total compensation
$186,905

Hendrika Snoek is a Supervising Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $186,905.

Nilda Cedeno

Senior Management Secretary IV/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$186,811
Base pay
$110,299
Overtime
$545
Other pay
$16,279
Benefits
$59,688
Total compensation
$186,811

At Public Defender, Nilda Cedeno serves as a Senior Management Secretary IV. Their 2025 pay totaled $186,811.

Christine Harbster

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$186,698
Base pay
$118,602
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$2,111
Benefits
$65,985
Total compensation
$186,698

Christine Harbster works as a Deputy Public Defender III for Public Defender. Christine earned $186,698 in 2025.

Oliver Jerde

Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$186,578
Base pay
$119,898
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,327
Benefits
$61,353
Total compensation
$186,578

At Public Defender, Oliver Jerde serves as a Deputy Public Defender III. Their 2025 pay totaled $186,578.

Lee Tran

Senior IT Technical Support Analyst/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$186,557
Base pay
$115,354
Overtime
$2,237
Other pay
$6,782
Benefits
$62,184
Total compensation
$186,557

Lee Tran is a Senior IT Technical Support Analyst at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $186,557.