Our Team

Heather Rogers

Heather Rogers has been a public defender for over 20 years in the state and federal courts. Ms. Rogers has handled cases at every stage of litigation, from arraignment through trial and appeal. She has represented clients accused of offenses from delinquency to homicide, defended detainees incarcerated at Guantánamo Naval Base in Guantanamo, Cuba, and argued cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Rogers is honored to serve as the first Public Defender of Santa Cruz County, her birthplace and home. Ms. Rogers and her team, together with their clients and community, are building a public defense agency where interdisciplinary teams pair zealous trial advocacy with holistic support to defend indigent adults and children accused of crimes, while helping them address the root causes of system involvement and break harmful cycles.

Before her appointment, Ms. Rogers served as a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Ms. Rogers is a faculty member of the National Criminal Defense College, lecturer in Legal Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and frequent trainer at regional and national trial skills programs. Ms. Rogers has also taught at California Western School of Law and Monterey College of Law. Ms. Rogers serves on the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association, Housing for Health Partnership Policy Board, Criminal Justice Council, Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Rogers is a co-founder of The Bridge Foundation of Santa Cruz County, a nonprofit organization that provides material support to promote rehabilitation, recovery, and reentry for public defender clients in Santa Cruz County. Ms. Rogers is a Fellow of the American Trial Lawyers Association and has received numerous awards for her advocacy, including the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice Skip Glen Award, the Santa Cruz County Bar Association’s Access to Justice Award, and the Santa Cruz County ACLU’s Hammer of Justice Award.

Ms. Rogers clerked for the Honorable M. Margaret McKeown on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before starting her career in public defense at Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. Ms. Rogers also served as a public defender in Monterey County and at the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California before coming home to Santa Cruz. Ms. Rogers has an A.B. in English Language & Literature, with honors, from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she graduated with distinction and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Ms. Rogers lives in the Aptos mountains with her husband, children, and pets. In her free time, Ms. Rogers enjoys traveling, hiking, and snowboarding.

Athena Reis

Athena Reis is the Chief Deputy Public Defender for Santa Cruz County, where she has been advocating for the rights and dignity of the indigent accused with courage and compassion since 2012. Over the course of her career, Athena has represented both adults and juveniles facing charges ranging from misdemeanors to the most serious felony offenses, including homicide.

Before her appointment as Chief Deputy Public Defender, Athena supervised the Juvenile and Specialty Courts units, where she helped guide interdisciplinary advocacy for young people and clients navigating complex legal and social challenges. Her work reflects a deep commitment to client-centered representation and to ensuring that every person in the criminal legal system receives meaningful, effective defense.

Outside the courtroom, Athena enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children.

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Mara Hickey

Mara comes to the Public Defender with more than 20 years of experience in criminal defense investigations ranging from misdemeanors to federal death penalty trials. Mara currently leads our Investigations Division as our Chief Investigator. Before joining us, Mara spent 15 years as a private investigator and mitigation specialist, working primarily on conflict panel cases for indigent clients throughout the Bay Area and California. Mara is a valuable team member on the most complex cases, working with attorneys and experts to develop and present robust defenses at trial and on appeal. Mara has worked with teams of investigators and investigative interns in her previous roles at the Office of the State Public Defender, Berkeley Law School, and the California State Bar Office of Chief Trial Counsel. Mara graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz, Phi Beta Kappa with Psychology department honors and is proficient in Spanish. She especially enjoys working with her clients, both juveniles and adults, and helping them and their loved ones navigate the confusing and intimidating experience of criminal prosecution. In her free time, you will find Mara with her dog tending seasonal vegetables and native plants in the garden and spending time with her family.

Mirna Guerrero

Mirna Guerrero is an Administrative Services Manager for the Administrative Services Division. Mirna has served in administrative roles since 1999 with most of that time spent serving a an administrative professional for the County of Santa Cruz. Mirna served several administrative supportive roles with the Health Services Division and the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector departments. Mirna then promoted to Mid-Manager Analyst roles with the Community Development and Infrastructure Department and the Health Services Agency. Mirna also served on the board of a non-profit organization for a youth football league as the Vice President for 7 years. Outside of work, Mirna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching sports, trying new places to eat, and traveling when she can. Mirna is fluent in Spanish.

Elizabeth Byrd

Elizabeth Byrd is a dedicated social worker with a deep commitment to social justice and holistic, client-centered advocacy. A Santa Cruz native, she returned to her hometown with a passion for serving the community that shaped her, particularly its most vulnerable members. Elizabeth earned her undergraduate degrees in Justice Studies and Sociology from San José State University and completed her Master’s in Clinical Social Work at the University of Texas, where she was a Title IV-E Child Welfare Education Collaboration Scholar. Her early career included direct service in child welfare in both Central Texas and Santa Cruz County, as well as conducting comprehensive case reviews for child welfare cases. These experiences gave her a deep understanding of the systemic challenges families face and inspired her to pursue broader, integrative approaches to support and advocacy. Her leadership and dedication were recognized in 2018, when she received the Texas Department of Family and Children’s Services Award of Distinction for Region 7, and again in 2019, when she completed the Leadership Challenge Program. Most recently, she graduated from the Bay Area Social Services Consortium Executive Development Program in 2024, where he capstone focused on strategies for social worker recruitment and retention in public welfare roles. Elizabeth currently serves as the Director of Holistic Defense at the Santa Cruz County Public Defender’s Office. In this role, she ensures that clients receive not only robust legal advocacy but also access to critical services such as mental health care, housing, and other community-based supports. She approaches her work with the belief that justice must consider the full context of a person’s life. Outside of her professional life, Elizabeth enjoys reading, spending time at the beach, and hiking in the redwoods—activities that keep her grounded and connected to the natural beauty of Santa Cruz, the region she calls home.

Diana August

Diana August has been a public defender in Santa Cruz County since 1987, where she began her career at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Diana has handled all manner of cases, from misdemeanors to the most complex homicides. Diana currently leads a unit that defends clients accused of misdemeanors.

Michelle Lipperd

Michelle Lipperd is a public defender with extensive experience defending clients accused of delinquency and criminal offenses ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. Michelle was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Michelle currently leads a unit that helps clients understand the true consequences of criminal convictions, including impacts on immigration and licensing, clears obstacles to success through record clearance, and offers reentry support, including post-conviction relief and supportive services. Michelle serves on the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Criminal Defense Bar.

Allen Cave

Allen Cave is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in criminal law.  His career started with the Tulare County Public Defender in 2003.  Subsequently, Allen worked for 10 years at the predecessor to the Santa Cruz County Public Defender’s Office: the law firm of Biggam, Christensen, and Minsloff.  From 2013 to 2023, Allen worked as a sole practitioner, in private practice, and was a member of multiple indigent defense panels during that timeframe.  Allen joined the Santa Cruz County Public Defender in July of 2023. Allen is currently on a felony trial team.

Allen has handled, and tried, virtually every type of criminal case. He has a special affinity for Santa Cruz County and its people.  Allen is ecstatic to be working in the community again.

In his time outside of work, Allen spends time with his family and coaches T-ball. 

Lori Quick

Lori Quick is a criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of experience. She worked as a deputy public defender in Marin County and at the law firm of Biggam, Christensen and Minsloff, where she tried numerous misdemeanor and felony cases. She then moved to the Sixth District Appellate Program (SDAP) in San Jose, California where she represented indigent clients in appeals from felony convictions in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. During her last five years at SDAP, Lori served as the assistant director while also maintaining a caseload. Lori is currently our law and motions supervisor. In that capacity, she conducts legal research, writes motions, writs and other legal pleadings, and assists defenders in navigating a variety of legal issues. Lori also oversees the agency’s writ and motion practice, supervises paralegals, law clerks, and interns assigned to the Law & Motions Unit, and leads recruitment efforts for pre- and post-Bar law clerks. She is also a member of the California Public Defenders Association Amicus Committee. In her spare time, Lori serves on the board of the local chapter of the ACLU. She enjoys spending time with her family and her two cats, growing roses, reading history, political activism, and taking walks by the ocean. She is an avid film buff and enjoys watching and reading about movies and films of almost every genre.

Sierra Thompson

Sierra supervises our Juvenile Justice & Specialty Courts on an interim basis, with assistance from the Chief Deputy Public Defender. Sierra received her law degree from the New York University School of Law. Before returning to her native California in 2023, she was a public defender representing adults in criminal court in New Orleans, where she served in various capacities at the Orleans Public Defenders, including Training Supervisor, Interim District Defender, and Deputy District Defender. She has also represented parents charged with abuse and neglect in family court in Brooklyn.

Maria Rodriguez-Castillo

María Rodríguez-Castillo is the Social Work Supervisor in the Holistic Division, where she supervises a team of holistic advocates. María brings over 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. She most recently served as the Director of both the Luna y Sol Familia Center and the Alcance Programs at the Community Action Board (CAB) of Santa Cruz County, where she led efforts to support at-promise youth and adults through comprehensive wraparound services. Her work is rooted in community empowerment and equity, and she remains a strong presence in the field, demonstrating a long-standing dedication to social justice. Throughout her professional journey, María has served diverse and often underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities, mental health conditions, survivors of childhood sexual abuse, victims of crime, those causing harm, and those impacted by substance use disorders. Her focus on prevention and reentry has contributed to reducing recidivism and fostering healing pathways for system-impacted individuals and their families. In addition to her work at CAB, María has held roles such as Disabilities and Mental Health Specialist for Encompass Head Start, Executive Director of the Survivors Healing Center, and Independent Living Specialist for the Central Coast Center for Independent Living. Most recently, she completed The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Applied Leadership Network (ALN), a rigorous 18-month program designed to equip leaders to pursue meaningful, youth-centered change within the justice system. María is also certified in several culturally grounded leadership and healing programs, including Joven Noble, Cara y Corazón, Xinachtli, and Girasol Rites of Passage Youth Leadership Development, as well as Evidence-Based Circle Facilitation through La Cultura Cura.

Ajla Azevedo-Husic

Ajla Azevedo-Husic is an experienced immigration attorney and has practiced immigration law in private practice for 7 years before joining our office. During her last year of law school, Ajla was a Judicial Intern at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in the Hague, Netherlands. Ajla advises our clients and attorneys on the immigration consequences of system involvement and represents our clients in post-conviction relief matters. In her free time, Ajla enjoys listening to Bosnian “narodna” music, traveling, and painting.

Rory Bartle

Rory Bartle is an experienced public defender who has defended clients accused of all manner of offenses, from misdemeanors to homicides. Rory was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Rory is currently a lead attorney in the Juvenile Justice & Specialty Court Unit, representing juveniles accused of delinquency, and clients facing involuntary commitment for mental illness or civil contempt. Rory also represents clients in Partnership for Accountability, Connection and Treatment (P.A.C.T.) Court and Veteran Court. Rory speaks Spanish.

Mark Briscoe

Mark Briscoe has worked as a public defender for 15 years in Santa Cruz and for another 2 years in San Francisco. Mark was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Mark has handled all manner of criminal cases from DUIs to homicides. Mark has worked on state commissions focusing on domestic violence and mental health. Mark was previously the Behavioral Health Lead for our office and a felony Trial Team Lead. Mark currently handles special assignments for our Felony Team and Collateral Consequences & Reentry Unit.

Austyn Caisse

Austyn Caisse is a first-generation attorney proud to be protecting the rights of the accused in her hometown of Santa Cruz. Austyn's legal endeavors began when she went to Soquel High School and competed as a defense attorney on the school’s Mock Trial team. She went to San Francisco State University for undergrad where she earned her degree in History with an emphasis on the Middle East, and then went on to graduate from the University of Kansas School of Law. Austyn spent most of her time in law school competing in the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court competitions, where she was humbled and honored to be able to help bring awareness to indigenous legal issues from around the country. She has worked with and volunteered at refugee centers, legal aid clinics, medical-legal organizations, where her zeal and passion for helping others fight for their rights led her to proudly becoming a criminal defense attorney. Austyn has lived in San Francisco, France, Chicago, and Kansas City, and has traveled extensively both domestically and internationally. In her spare time, Austyn enjoys running, being at the beach, and learning to play the banjo.

Juan Calzetta, III

Juan Calzetta has been an attorney for over a decade. He began his career practicing immigration law and family law, then worked at Legal Aid of Santa Barbara County where he helped people with evictions and eviction defense, domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders and responses, small claims actions, debt collection and enforcement of judgments, and name changes. From there, Juan worked as a civil litigator for seven years handling a variety of matters before joining our agency as a public defender. Juan is currently an attorney on a misdemeanor defense team where he defends people accused of crimes. Juan is fluent in Spanish.

Ted Fairbanks

Ted Fairbanks is a public defender who has defended clients accused of all manner of offenses. Ted was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Ted previously served as a Law & Motions Lead, supporting defense teams with written advocacy and overseeing a paralegal and law clerks. Ted is currently a lead attorney on a misdemeanor defense team, where he defends people accused of crimes and supports his team.

Jose Gonzalez

Jose Gonzalez is a graduate of Santa Clara Law and began practicing in 2021 after passing California’s first virtual bar exam. He began his career as an attorney with the Santa Clara Public Defender’s office where he handled general misdemeanors and domestic violence misdemeanors. Jose then spent time in private criminal defense at The Nieves Law Firm in Oakland, before deciding to return to public defense. Jose is currently on a felony trial team. When not in the court room, Jose enjoys running, watching boxing, and visiting his nieces and nephews. Jose is proud of his Mexican heritage and speaks Spanish fluently.

“Respetemos y abramos los corazones, que los muros de la mente son el peligro inminente.” – El Muro, Los Tigres Del Norte
[Translation: “We must respect each other and open our hearts, because the borders of our minds are our imminent demise.”]

Catalina Huang

Catalina Huang is a first-generation attorney from the Bay Area. Catalina graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a major in Political Science and a minor in Computer Science. She managed math and science summer programs at an education nonprofit before attending law school at the University of California, Davis. During law school, Catalina worked at several public defender’s offices and wrote Padilla advisals in the Immigration Law Clinic. Catalina is conversational in Spanish. Catalina currently serves as an attorney on a misdemeanor defense team. In her free time, Catalina enjoys crocheting, knitting, sewing, and playing the ukulele.

Tawnya Hughes

Tawnya Hughes is a criminal defense attorney from Southern California with over 20 years of experience. Tawnya is Certified by the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Criminal Law and has litigated criminal matters in Tulare, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. Tawyna has represented the accused in a wide range of cases including murder, attempted murder, gang crimes, domestic violence, child abuse, child molestation, human trafficking, sexual assault, robbery, and drug related offenses. Before joining our agency, Tawnya worked as a deputy public defender in San Bernardino County, where she was assigned to the Homicide Defense Team for over three years. Tawnya is a zealous trial litigator who cares about her clients, their families, and obtaining the best possible outcomes in their cases. Tawnya is currently an attorney on a felony defense team where she defends people accused of crimes. In her spare time, Tawnya enjoys spending time with her children and traveling to beautiful locations.

Eric Krebs

Eric Krebs is an experienced trial attorney and zealous advocate. Before joining the Santa Cruz County Office of the Public Defender, Eric established his own successful law practice with an emphasis on federal white collar and criminal defense matters, including a case roster involving all aspects of criminal defense from fraud and money laundering cases to computer crime and drug offenses. Previously, he served as an attorney in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California. Eric has also taught legal writing and moot court classes at The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly, U.C. Hastings College of the Law), where he was an Adjunct Professor of law. Eric currently serves as our Mental Health Lead Attorney, handling felony cases as well as civil matters.

Jaime Longoria

Jaime M. Longoria is an experienced felony lawyer who joined our office in May 2023. Mr. Longoria, a first-generation Mexican-American and the first in his family to finish high school, graduated at the top of his college class then went on to law school with a goal of becoming a public defender. In addition to possessing degrees in criminal justice and law (JD), Mr. Longoria was also awarded a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Trial Advocacy. His career as a deputy public defender officially began in San Francisco where he represented thousands of indigent clients in criminal court and completed over twenty jury trials. Mr. Longoria comes to us with valuable experience in collaborative court settings, including Veterans Justice Court, Drug Court, Community Justice Court, Parole Court, and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion. Mr. Longoria is a disabled veteran (USMC) and a member of the Santa Cruz Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He enjoys exploring nature with his two young children and dancing.

Manuel Nieto

Manuel Nieto is a California Native, born and raised in rural Fresno County. Manuel is a graduate of Sanger High School. Manuel completed a B.A. at Fresno State and a J.D. at the University of San Francisco School of Law. Manuel began his criminal defense career in Madera County and refined his litigation skills at the Fresno County Public Defender where he provided criminal defense services for nearly 19 years. Manuel further served 10 years in private practice. Manuel has tried all level of cases, from misdemeanor traffic cases to murder cases. Manuel is currently a lead attorney on a felony defense team where he defends people accused of crimes and supports his team. Manuel is fluent in Spanish. In his free time, Manuel enjoys painting and reading about history.

Darcy Morris

Darcy Morris is a fourth generation attorney. She is from Carson City, Nevada. Darcy went to University of California, Davis and graduated Cum Laude. Darcy graduated from law school at the University of San Francisco. Starting as a law student, Darcy has worked at various Public Defender's Offices in the state of California. Darcy has also worked in dependency court in Los Angeles to defend parents and help them reunify with their children. Darcy is currently an attorney on a misdemeanor defense team, where she represents clients that struggle with mental health, addiction and are charged with low-level crimes. Darcy is proficient in Spanish. She enjoys online shopping, indie concerts, and detective shows.

Anthony Robinson

Anthony Robinson is an experienced public defender who has defended clients accused of all manner of offenses. Anthony was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Anthony is currently a lead attorney in the Domestic Violence Department where he represents clients and supports a defense team that defends clients accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses involving domestic violence.

Hannah Taylor

Hannah Taylor is an experienced attorney whose career has been dedicated to indigent defense. Hannah’s first experience with public defense work was in law school where she interned at the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of California. She’s previously worked in Sacramento, Placer, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. In 2017 she opened her own firm in San Jose and began taking cases for the Independent Defense Office for Santa Clara County, representing clients in need of public defender services including those accused of misdemeanors, general felonies, domestic violence, human trafficking, and homicides. Hannah has coached high school mock trial for over 10 years, including solo invitational international tournaments. Her students have garnered numerous outstanding witness and attorney awards, along with multiple county championships. Hannah is on our felony trial team. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, mentoring LGBTQ youth, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Stacy Vinyard

Stacy Vinyard is a public defender who has represented clients accused of all manner of offenses, from delinquency to felonies. Stacy was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services in Santa Cruz County. Stacy is currently an attorney on a felony defense team.

Joe Ziebron

Joe has been a public defender in California for seven years, living and working in Santa Cruz for the last six. Joe was a public defender at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services in Santa Cruz County. He has been a felony trial attorney in this county for five years. Joe is currently a lead attorney in a felony department, where he represents clients accused of felonies and supports a felony defense team.

Ariana Alejandre

Ariana H. Alejandre is an experienced trial attorney whose entire career has been dedicated to indigent defense. Ms. Alejandre graduated from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) in 2015 and began her career as a public defender in Santa Clara County. In 2016, Ms. Alejandre went on to practice at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office where she remained for approximately eight years and represented clients at all stages of their proceedings including arraignment and jury trial. Over the course of her career, she has zealously represented her clients and has been committed to ensuring they have a voice and are treated with dignity and respect irrespective of their charges. She has handled a broad spectrum of cases, ranging from misdemeanors to more serious and violent felonies including those charged with domestic violence, attempted murder, and child molestation cases. She currently serves on our Felony Trial Team. Ms. Alejandre is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and is fluent in Spanish. Her fluency in Spanish, coupled with her proud Mexican heritage, enriches her ability to serve diverse communities with empathy and cultural understanding. Ms. Alejandre is a graduate of the HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality) Leadership Institute Class of 2021.

Max Hare

Max is a graduate of Deep Springs College and Stanford University. He earned his law degree (2018), as well as a master’s degree in public policy (2020), from the University of California, Berkeley. Max grew up in Monterey, CA, and moved back to the Monterey Bay in 2022 to work at the Santa Cruz County Office of the Public Defender. Before that, he worked as an attorney at the Mendocino County Public Defender’s Office. Max is currently on a felony trial team. Max volunteers his time as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County and as an attorney coach for the Watsonville High School mock trial team. As hobbies, Max enjoys cycling, learning and practicing Spanish, and cooking, baking, and ice cream making.

Bradly DeMoll

Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Bradly is a graduate of University of California Law San Francisco and University of California, Santa Cruz. Passionate for helping others, Bradly spent his time in law school volunteering with various non-profit organizations. These included Legal Services for Children and Prisoner Legal Services, where Bradly provided legal information and services to immigrant children and people who were incarcerated. Bradly is an attorney on the misdemeanor defense team. He enjoys playing soccer, rock climbing, and connecting with humans and nature. Bradly is fluent in Spanish.

Abby Leeser

Abby Leeser is originally from Arizona and graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law where she received a certificate in Criminal Law for extensive hours at the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association. She worked on eviction defense and record clearance for low income and immigrant families in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. She is now on the misdemeanor defense team.

Pavan Tolani

Pavan Tolani is a first-generation lawyer who was born and raised in the city of Los Angeles. Pavan went to San Francisco State University and graduated cum laude. Pavan graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law. Previously, Pavan worked with the Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles representing low income individuals in eviction defense cases. Pavan is currently assigned to a misdemeanor trial team. In his free time, Pavan enjoys hiking, cooking, and collecting vinyl records.

Elodie Masschaele

Elodie Masschaele is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (J.D.) and the University of Southern California (B.A.). Since starting law school, she has since spent time at various public defender offices across the Bay Area. Elodie is fluent in Spanish and is an attorney on the misdemeanor defense team. Originally from New Jersey, Elodie now enjoys hiking in the beautiful redwoods and shopping for vintage clothes and furniture.

Veronica Hernandez

Veronica Hernandez is a public defender investigator with considerable experience investigating all manner of cases in Santa Cruz County. Veronica previously served as an investigator at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Veronica is currently an investigator in the Juvenile Justice & Specialty Courts Unit. Veronica also handles felony and misdemeanor investigations. Veronica is a member of the California Defense Investigators Association. Veronica has a California Private Investigator license. In her free time, Veronica enjoys hiking and traveling. Veronica is fluent in Spanish.

Christina Garafola

Christina Garafola has been a criminal defense investigator since 2006. Christina previously served as an investigator at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. She has extensive experience working on misdemeanor, felony, mental health, and conservatorship cases. In her previous career, Christina ran after-school and summer camp programs for local elementary school students. Christina is currently an investigator on a felony defense team and assists clients in Lanterman-Petris Short (LPS) proceedings. She also assists our defense teams as a specialist in vulnerable witnesses. Christina is a member of the California Defense Investigators Association. Christina has a California Private Investigator license. In her free time, you can find her traveling, exploring museums, and attending live theatre.

Hilda Haro

Hilda Haro is a new public defender investigator with experience investigating in agricultural regulatory settings. Hilda is currently an investigator on a defense team. Hilda served Santa Cruz County as an Agricultural Inspector for 14+ years, and transitioned into the legal field in 2015. Hilda has a legal background. She holds a J.D. and M.L.S. Hilda has roots in Santa Cruz County enjoys serving the community in which she was raised. In her free time, you can find Hilda traveling to roping competitions and being present for her family. Hilda is fluent in Spanish.

David Pacini

David Pacini is a public defender investigator with extensive experience investigating cases in Santa Cruz County. David has been working as a defense investigator for about 20 years and has experience working on a wide variety of cases. David served as an investigator at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. David is currently an investigator on the Domestic Violence team. David also assists defense teams as a specialist in domestic violence. David has a California Private Investigator license. In his free time, David enjoys playing tennis, jogging, and taking in the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz area. David is fluent in Spanish.

Siobhan Rice

Siobhan Rice has worked as a public defender investigator in Santa Cruz County since 2016. She has diligently investigated a wide variety of juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases. Siobhan was an investigator at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously handled public defense services for Santa Cruz County. She is currently a lead investigator on a felony defense team. Siobhan is a Certified Criminal Defense Investigator and has her California Private Investigator license.

Max Smith

Max Smith began working as a public defender investigator in 2025. He is currently assigned to a misdemeanor defense team. He previously worked as a probation officer and interned in a juvenile hall. He was born and raised in Santa Cruz and holds a master’s degree in sociology. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, hiking, camping, and spending time with his family.

Nayani Azibuke

Nayani Azibuke-Brenneman began working as a Public Defender Investigator in 2025. He is currently assigned to a misdemeanor defense team. He previously worked as a Private Investigator for about 7 years and has a California Private Investigator License. He attended university at UCSC where he graduated with a degree in political science. In his free time, Nayani enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

Enkhjin Batbuyan

Enkhjin is a first-generation college student, having attended University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Cognitive Science and Legal Studies. She was an intern at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Enkhjin is currently a paralegal in the Collateral Consequences & Reentry Unit, where she specializes in record clearance. In her free time, Enkhjin enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Enkhjin is fluent in Mongolian.

Joana Mendoza

Joana Mendoza is a public defender paralegal with extensive experience supporting clients seeking record clearance to clear obstacles to success. Joana was a paralegal at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Joana is currently a paralegal in the Collateral Consequences & Reentry Unit, where she specializes in record clearance, coordinates outreach, and assists with training and supporting student interns. Joana earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she majored in Politics. Joana has a Paralegal Certificate. In her free time, Joana enjoys traveling, attending live music events, and spending time with her friends and family. Joana is fluent in Spanish.

Mirna Fonseca Vargas

Mirna Fonseca Vargas is a public defender paralegal supporting clients seeking record clearance to clear obstacles to employment, housing, and success. Mirna previously worked for the Grunsky Law Firm, PC. Mirna is currently a paralegal in the Collateral Consequences & Reentry Unit, where she specializes in record clearance and assists with translating. Mirna earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Davis, where she majored in Sociology with an emphasis in law and society. Mirna has a Paralegal Certificate from American River College. In her free time, Mirna enjoys spending time with her friends and family, going on hikes, and watching sitcoms. Mirna is fluent in Spanish.

Rosa Sanchez Duran

Rosa was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. She immigrated to the United States and arrived in Watsonville, CA in 2007. She has been living and working in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties since then. Rosa attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, earning degrees in Latin American and Latino Studies and Spanish. Rosa previously worked as a DOJ Accredited Representative at a local nonprofit in Watsonville serving our immigrant communities. In that role, she developed a strong commitment to client-centered advocacy, cultural competency, and defending the rights of individuals navigating complex legal systems. Rosa is currently a defender paralegal specializing in assisting defense teams with preparing complex trials for trial. In her free time, she enjoys hiking local trails, practicing photography, and spending time gardening in her backyard. Rosa is fluent in Spanish.

Yesenia Lopez-Duran

Yesenia is a Santa Cruz native. She graduated from San Jose State University in May 2020 as a first-generation college graduate with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. Yesenia has always been driven for social justice and equality for individuals in underserved communities. While attending college, she volunteered at different non-profits and organizations in town and in San Jose working with children, youth, and adults. After graduating from college, Yesenia worked at a local non-profit in town working with Transition Age Youth in the community ensuring that they were receiving advocacy and mental health services, and having their basic needs met. Yesenia is currently a social worker in the Holistic Defense Division. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family and exploring new places.

Lillian Nathanson

Lillian Nathanson is a graduate of Barnard College at Columbia University, where she studied sociology. Originally from Santa Fe, Lillian spent four years participating in her hometown’s Teen Court, an alternative youth justice program, serving as an attorney and Youth Council representative. At Barnard, Lillian honed her writing skills at the Columbia Daily Spectator and was a board member for the Women of Color Pre-Law Society. Lillian Nathanson is a Partners for Justice Client Advocate. Lillian speaks Spanish.

Charlee Evans

Coming soon!

Alondra Orozco

Coming soon!

Gilli Weinstein

Coming soon!

Alicia Gallegos

Alicia has worked as a social worker for the past 9 years in Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz County. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. Alicia graduated from San Jose State University where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. Alicia completed her internships at Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey in their Tattoo Removal Program, as well as at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office in the inmate programs department at the Rountree facility and at Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health in the access department. Previous to this, she worked as a mental health coordinator through Front Street, Inc. After graduate school, Alicia worked as a medical social worker in dialysis clinics and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Alicia was a board member of the Freedom Within Prison Project. Alicia is currently a social worker in the Holistic Defense Division. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, eating good food, and spending time with her loved ones.

Salma Lomeli Reynoso

Salma Lomeli is a graduate of California State University, Monterey Bay, where she earned a degree in psychology. Born and raised in Santa Cruz County, Salma has a deep-rooted commitment to community engagement and equity. She has over 5 years of experience working with youth in the community, supporting system-impacted individuals and their families. Her professional background also includes work in recreation and services for older adults, grounded in trauma-informed and strengths-based practice. Salma is currently a defender social worker on our juvenile justice team. Outside of work, Salma enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs and exploring new places.

Melanie Avalos

Melanie recently graduated with dual degrees in Political Science-Public Service and Chicana/o/x Studies at the University of California, Davis. During her time as an undergrad, she developed much experience, from interning at the California State Assembly to facilitating weekly circles catered to system-impacted youth with MILPA. She has extensive work experience in higher education and youth advocacy, as she has worked with TRIO Upward Bound at Pasadena City College and was an Academic Community Counselor in the Chicanx Studies Department at UC Davis. There she worked with many first-generation Latinx students navigating higher education and connecting them with campus/community resources. Melanie enjoys doing research focusing on Latinx educational disparities, as she has published work at the UC Sacramento Center and additionally worked on a thesis focusing on the decolonial abolitionist reimagining of higher education. Melanie has been deeply rooted in public service and community support. She currently works as Partners for Justice client advocate at our office.

Dalia Garcia Roldan

Coming soon!

Brenda Alvarez

Brenda Alvarez is a legal assistant in the Legal Services Unit. Brenda served in a similar capacity at Biggam, Christensen, and Minsloff, the private defense firm that previously provided public defense for Santa Cruz County. Brenda currently serves on a defense team. Outside of work, Brenda enjoys attending concerts and jaripeos. Brenda is fluent in Spanish.

Darlene Amara

Alexis Gonzalez

Alexis Gonzalez is a legal assistant in the Legal Services Unit. Alexis currently serves on a defense team. Outside of work, Alexis enjoys attending sporting events and spending time with her loved ones. Alexis is fluent in Spanish.

Lupita Lopez

Lupita Lopez is the Senior Legal Assistant in the Legal Services Unit at the Public Defender’s Office. She brings extensive experience from her previous role at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the former public defense provider for Santa Cruz County. In her current position, Lupita leads and supports the legal assistant team, helping to ensure smooth and effective operations within the office. Fluent in Spanish, Lupita plays a key role in supporting clients and colleagues across language barriers. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones, taking walks with her dog, and attending sporting events.

Esther Lobato

Esther Lobato is a legal assistant in the Legal Services Unit. Esther served in a similar capacity at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Esther currently serves on a defense team. Esther is fluent in Spanish.

Irene Muñoz

Irene Muñoz is a legal assistant in the Legal Services Unit. Irene served in a similar capacity at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff, the defense firm that previously provided public defense services for Santa Cruz County. Prior to that, Irene volunteered at the Probation Department, where she worked closely with juveniles to support better outcomes. Irene currently serves in the Juvenile Justice & Specialty Courts Unit and is the client coordinator at our Watsonville office. Irene is fluent in Spanish. Irene enjoys attending live music events, going on walks, sports, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Isabelle Preciado

As a Watsonville native, Isabelle enjoys serving her community. With her growing experience in human services, Isabelle has developed an understanding of the importance of supporting bicultural communities. Isabelle attended Monterey Peninsula College where she earned an associate degree in Spanish and general studies. She is biliterate in Spanish, and passionate about her Hispanic heritage. Isabelle is currently a legal clerk, specializing in discovery. Outside of work, Isabelle dedicates her time to her family, friends, and her dogs, Palomo and Pimienta.

Karen Gonzalez

Coming soon!

Edward Willey

Edward Willey has a 30-year career in information technology working in various sectors including artificial intelligence software, environmental data management, Superfund remediation, and social media marketing. Along with extensive programming experience using many different languages and databases, he has been a solutions engineer, managed a technical support department, and was most recently the VP of Software Engineering for a local software services company. After many years of working in the commercial software industry, he is excited to serve in a more service-oriented role in supporting the mission of the Office of the Public Defender. Whenever he can, he enjoys training in Aikido, teaching meditation and qigong, dancing, and getting out into nature.

Suzanne Willis

Suzanne Willis is the Public Defender’s Administrative Analyst. She is working to find additional sources of funding and supporting the department with budgeting, processes, and data collection. Prior to joining the agency, Suzanne was the Chief Development and Marketing Officer for Second Harvest Food Bank. She has extensive experience in fundraising for both universities and private non profits. She has her Masters of Public Administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (now known as Middlebury Institute) and is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Suzanne is a board member for Encompass and tutors English for Santa Cruz County’s Volunteer Center. In her free time, you can find her at a ranch in Soquel riding an old roping horse named Red.

Lucretia Miguel

Lucretia Miguel was born and raised in Santa Cruz County. She attended Sonoma State University where she graduated with her BA in Psychology, followed by a multiple subject teaching credential. She previously worked for the Live Oak School district teaching preschool, and after a long break from the workforce to raise her own children, she started working for the County at the Public Defender’s Office as Extra help. She has also worked in other departments in the county, such as Family and Children’s Services and Health Services, before returning home to the Public Defender’s Office as a full-time Administrative Aide.

Cydney Nguyen-Cruz

Cydney Nguyen is an accomplished administrative professional with extensive experience in lead administrative support roles. Most of Cydney's professional career has been with the County of Santa Cruz. Before joining our office, Cydney worked most recently at the Community Development and Infrastructure Department where she managed projects related to rebuilding County Service Areas (CSA) roadways and providing natural disaster relief to CSA homeowners. Cydney is a Departmental Administrative Analyst in our Administrative Services Division. In her free time, Cydney enjoys exploring international foods with her family and gardening year-round. Cydney speaks Vietnamese.

Stephanie Litman

My name is Stephanie Litman. I am currently going into my third year of college at UCSC. I am a politics and psychology double major. In the future I want to become an immigration or family lawyer. A fun fact about me is I love tacos and I used to play competitive ultimate frisbee.

Eden DePuydt

Hi all! My name is Eden, and I am enthusiastic to be starting as an Investigative intern here at the Santa Cruz Public Defender's office. I will be helping out on both the Investigative and Holistic Defense teams as I hold a strong passion for social justice and the law. Last May of 2023, I obtained my bachelor's in Sociology with a concentration in law, crime, and justice from the University of San Diego. I look forward to gaining valuable experience here at the Public Defender's office and using it towards my future career goals. I greatly look forward to working with you all!

Jasmine Rocha Serrano

Hello, my name is Jasmine and I am an incoming senior at UCSC. I am double majoring in Legal Studies and Psychology. My academic goals for the future is to attend law school and gain more experience with criminal defense work. What I hope to get out of this internship is improving my ability to think critically while also gaining mentorship from experienced attorneys.

Jennyfer Cortez

Hello my name is Jenny I’m a student at UCSC majoring in community studies and minoring in legal studies. I really enjoy meditating and love spending time in nature. I’m from South Central LA and my community has really inspired me to work hard and advocate for our needs.

Geena Chernyak

Hi all! My name is Geena Chernyak! I am a fourth year over at UC Santa Cruz. My major is Global Economics and minor is Technology and Information Management. After graduating, I am looking to purse a legal degree and attend law school. I’m beyond excited to get a deeper dive into the work of public defending and understand how we aid members of our community. Beyond my passion for the law, I absolutely adore music and am a huge fan of Taylor Swift.

Mia Zambrano

My name is Mia Zambrano and I am incoming fourth-year at UCSC. I am currently working towards my bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies and a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies. After my four years are done, I plan to take a gap year to study for the LSAT and gain more experience in the legal field, and after the year I will apply to Law schools. Overall, my career goal is to become an immigration lawyer, but this may change after this internship. Fun fact I love to go bowling!

Shyel Meisels

Hello! My name is Shyel, and I am a second-year student at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Politics and Philosophy. I spent last summer interning at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, and I hope to become a public defender myself one day. In my free time I enjoy playing the drums and working on cars and motorcycles. I’m also interested in Juvenile defense and would love to start exploring that during my time here.

Anthony Espinoza

My name is Antony Espinoza, I’m 19 and a fourth year Politics Major at the University of California Santa Cruz. Some of my interests include working out at the gym, reading, gaming, playing soccer, and playing the piano. My career aspirations include attending law school once I graduate and becoming a criminal attorney. What I hope to get out of this internship is more work experience with legal work, a recommendation letter for law school, and to help as many people as possible with their cases

Emilly Garcia-Morales

My name is Emilly Garcia-Morales (she/her) and I am a third year attending UC Santa Cruz, majoring in Psychology with a minor in legal studies. This internship drew me in because I am interested in expanding my experience in criminal law for future law school goals. Throughout my time as an intern, I want to be a strong advocate for clients and sharpen my skills in investigations, while also utilizing the holistic approach. I understand that not everyone has the same economic or social background, so I hope to make a difference in the client’s experience by providing a sense of empathy during hard times. A fun fact about me is that I have experience volunteering in a prison and getting to learn more about inmates and their experiences, which was extremely insightful for me. I’m looking forward to get to know you all!

Gabriela Madrid

My name is Gabriela Madrid, and I am a 4th year UCSC student majoring in psychology. I am interested in working here because I want to gain knowledge on how the defense system works. I want to see in-depth the role and contribution each unit has with clients and people seeking assistance. I hope to learn from these interactions to help my community.