San Diego Criminal Defense
When your future is on the line, you need a defense built around the facts.
If you or someone you care about is facing a criminal charge, arrest, or investigation in San Diego County or anywhere in Southern California, the decisions you make early in the process can matter. Diego Defense, led by attorney Ashby C. Sorensen, has focused exclusively on criminal defense since 2009.
Criminal defense exclusively · Former felony trial public defender · Serving San Diego County and all of Southern California
Attorney
Ashby C. Sorensen
Where most people start
Facing criminal charges in San Diego?
Most people call with the same handful of urgent questions. You do not need to know the answers before contacting the firm — that is what the consultation is for: understanding the allegations, the process, the evidence, and the options.
- What am I actually charged with?
- Could I go to jail?
- Should I talk to the police?
- What happens at my first court date?
- Can charges be dismissed?
- What happens to my driver's license after a DUI?
Practice areas
Criminal defense cases we handle
Every case is different, but the discipline is the same: know what is alleged, know what the evidence shows, and know where the legal issues are.
DUI Defense
A DUI case runs on two tracks at once — the criminal court case and your driving privilege. Both involve deadlines, and both deserve a close look at the stop, the testing, and the reports.
Learn moreFelony Defense
Felony allegations carry the most serious exposure in California courts. These cases demand early investigation, careful review of the evidence, and preparation from the first appearance forward.
Learn moreMisdemeanor Defense
A misdemeanor is still a criminal case with real consequences — custody exposure, probation terms, and a record that follows you. It should be handled with the same seriousness as any charge.
Learn moreDrug Crime Defense
Drug cases frequently turn on how evidence was found. Searches, stops, warrants, and informants are all areas where the legal issues can shape the entire case.
Learn moreDomestic Violence Defense
Domestic violence accusations move quickly and often involve protective orders that affect where you live and who you can contact. Context, statements, and injury evidence all matter.
Learn moreAssault & Battery Defense
Many assault and battery cases come down to competing accounts of a short, chaotic event. Self-defense, witness reliability, and video evidence are central issues.
Learn moreTheft & Property Crimes
Theft and property allegations often hinge on intent, identification, and valuation — questions that can change how a case is charged and how it should be defended.
Learn moreProbation Violations & Warrants
An alleged violation or an outstanding warrant can be addressed. Handling it deliberately, with counsel, is usually better than waiting for it to surface at the worst moment.
Learn moreCriminal Investigations
If detectives are calling, a warrant was served, or you have learned police are asking questions, you can seek legal advice before you are arrested or charged.
Learn more
Before charges are filed
Under criminal investigation?
You don't have to wait until you're arrested to seek legal advice.
A detective calling, a request for an interview, a search warrant served at your home, a subpoena, or simply learning that police are asking questions about you — all of these mean something is already underway.
Getting legal advice before making substantive statements can matter. An interview is not a neutral conversation, and statements given without advice frequently become the strongest evidence in a case.
Criminal investigationsJust arrested
Arrested in San Diego? Start here.
Method
How Diego Defense approaches a criminal case
There is no shortcut and no formula that fits every case. There is a sequence of work that has to be done properly.
- 01
Understand the allegations
Know exactly what is being claimed, what is charged, and what the government has to prove — before making any decisions about the case.
- 02
Investigate the facts
A police report is one account written by one participant. Independent investigation finds witnesses, video, and context the report leaves out.
- 03
Examine the evidence
Recordings, forensic results, digital evidence, and testing procedures are reviewed closely rather than accepted at face value.
- 04
Identify the legal issues
How evidence was obtained, whether statements were properly taken, and whether the elements are actually met can reshape a case.
- 05
Develop a strategy
Strategy follows the evidence — what to litigate, what to investigate further, and what a realistic resolution looks like.
- 06
Prepare to fight
A case is best positioned when it is prepared as though it may be tried. Preparation is what creates options.
Ashby C. Sorensen
San Diego criminal defense attorney
The attorney
Meet Ashby C. Sorensen
Ashby has focused exclusively on criminal defense since opening his practice in 2009. Before opening his own practice, he spent more than five years at the Fresno County Public Defender's Office, where he defended serious felony cases in trial court.
He earned his B.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego.
What matters in a defense
Criminal defense is work, not assurances.
Defending a criminal case requires clear communication with the client, investigation of the facts, careful analysis of the evidence, spotting the legal issues that others miss, and preparation that starts early rather than the week before a hearing.
The goal isn't to make promises about an outcome that no attorney can guarantee. The goal is to understand the case, identify the issues, and build the strongest defense supported by the facts and law.
That also means being direct with clients about what a case looks like, including when the news is not what they hoped to hear.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
General information about how criminal cases work in California — not legal advice about your specific situation.
Learn
San Diego criminal defense resources
This website is meant to be a real resource for people trying to understand what is happening to them — clear explanations of the process, written without jargon or scare tactics.
I've Been Arrested in San Diego. What Do I Do Now?
The first hours after an arrest are confusing. Here is a plain-English overview of what generally happens and what to focus on.
ReadPolice Want to Question Me. Should I Talk to Them?
A detective's call is not a casual conversation. Understanding your rights before you respond can matter.
ReadWhat Happens at a Criminal Arraignment?
The arraignment is usually the first court appearance. Here is what it is generally for — and what it is not.
ReadWhat Happens After a DUI Arrest?
A DUI arrest usually starts two separate processes — a court case and a driver's license issue — each with its own timeline.
ReadWhat Happens If I Have an Arrest Warrant?
A warrant does not go away on its own. It can usually be addressed deliberately rather than by surprise.
ReadWhat Happens If I'm Facing a Felony?
Felony cases follow a longer path than misdemeanors and carry the highest exposure. Preparation starts early.
ReadCan Criminal Charges Be Dismissed?
Cases resolve in many different ways. No attorney can promise a result — but the reasons cases change are worth understanding.
ReadCan I Clear My Criminal Record?
California provides post-conviction relief in some circumstances. Eligibility is specific to the case and history.
Read
Get Answers. Understand Your Options.
Facing a criminal charge or investigation? You don't need to figure out the entire criminal justice system before calling an attorney. Tell Diego Defense what happened. The firm can help you understand the allegations, the process, and the potential legal options based on your circumstances.