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.

DAVID MCCLAVE
CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

Division: Central
Undergraduate College: Concordia University Irvine
Law School: California Western School of Law, San Diego
Bar Number: 237929
Admission Date: October 27, 2005
Mr. McClave leads the Central Division, located in San Bernardino, 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.

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

Diana Lovelace

DIANA LOVELACE
CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION

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