Our Executive Team

Thomas Sone

THOMAS W. SONE
PUBLIC DEFENDER

Division: Administration
Undergraduate College: Washington State
Law School: University of San Diego
Bar Number: 203958
Admission Date: December 8, 1999
Mr. Sone was appointed the Public Defender for San Bernardino County on April 20, 2021.

head shot of Kellie Byward

KELLIE BYWARD
ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER

Division: Administration
Undergraduate College: Loyola Marymount University
Law School: Hastings College of the Law
Bar Number: 245765
Admission Date: November 1, 2006
Ms. Byward was appointed to Assistant Public Defender for San Bernardino County on February 3rd, 2023.

Richard M Sterling

RICHARD M. STERLING
CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

Division: Human Services
Undergraduate College: California State University, Long Beach
Law School: California Western School of Law, San Diego
Bar Number: 195221
Admission Date: June 30, 1998
Mr. Sterling leads the Human Services Division, located in San Bernardino, California.

Geoffrey Canty

GEOFFREY CANTY
CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

Division: West Valley
Undergraduate College: University of California, San Diego, graduated 1994
Law School: University of San Francisco, graduated 1997
Bar Number: 192628
Admission Date: December 1, 1997
Mr. Canty currently leads the West Valley Division, located in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Lance Thompson head shot

LANCE THOMPSON
CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

Division: Desert
Undergraduate College: Brigham Young University
Law School: Valparaiso University
Bar Number: 192407
Admission Date: December 5, 1997
Mr. Thompson leads the Desert Division, located in Victorville, California, as well as our office located in Joshua Tree, CA.

Diana Lovelace

DIANA LOVELACE
CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION

Division: Administration
Undergraduate College: California State University, San Bernardino