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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 17

Cindy Crippen

Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$122,289
Base pay
$71,783
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$5,014
Benefits
$45,492
Total compensation
$122,289

Cindy Crippen holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $122,289.

Marcella Rene

Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$122,136
Base pay
$53,763
Overtime
$969
Other pay
$39,308
Benefits
$28,096
Total compensation
$122,136

Marcella Rene is a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $122,136.

Monet Estrada

Senior Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$121,910
Base pay
$57,595
Overtime
$391
Other pay
$5,611
Benefits
$58,313
Total compensation
$121,910

At Public Defender, Monet Estrada serves as a Senior Paralegal. Their 2025 pay totaled $121,910.

Rhonda Vann-Brown

Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$121,648
Base pay
$77,182
Overtime
$776
Other pay
$5,000
Benefits
$38,690
Total compensation
$121,648

At Public Defender, Rhonda Vann-Brown serves as a Legal Office Support Assistant II. Their 2025 pay totaled $121,648.

Paul Chavez

Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$121,608
Base pay
$63,777
Overtime
$413
Other pay
$5,093
Benefits
$52,325
Total compensation
$121,608

Paul Chavez holds the role of Legal Office Support Assistant I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $121,608.

Lolise Anderson

Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$121,553
Base pay
$61,586
Overtime
$325
Other pay
$8,724
Benefits
$50,918
Total compensation
$121,553

Lolise Anderson works as a Legal Office Support Assistant I for Public Defender. Lolise earned $121,553 in 2025.

Erin Vites

Paralegal/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$121,535
Base pay
$66,746
Overtime
$1,799
Other pay
$13,690
Benefits
$39,300
Total compensation
$121,535

Erin Vites holds the role of Paralegal at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $121,535.

Darlene Selph

Legal Office Support Assistant II/Public Defender

2025 total comp
$121,524
Base pay
$77,182
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$6,838
Benefits
$37,504
Total compensation
$121,524

Darlene Selph is a Legal Office Support Assistant II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $121,524.