Ms. Bartels is a native of Southern California, where she graduated with honors from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Ms. Bartels traveled down the 405 to attend Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, graduating in 2008. While attending TJSL she clerked with the San Diego Alternate Public Defender’s Office, assisting on major felony cases. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2009. Soon after her admission to the State Bar, she became an associate attorney with Pensanti & Associates. As an associate attorney, she handled numerous cases spanning over five counties throughout Southern California. Among these cases were murder, attempted murder, child pornography, street terrorism, lewd and lascivious conduct, burglary, and third strike crimes. She has assisted on murder with special circumstances cases with senior attorneys.
Among her notable victories is negotiating a murder charge down to an assault, bringing her clients’ exposure down from sixty-five years to life to three years in San Bernardino Superior Court. She convinced the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office to not allege a third strike, once again saving a client from possibly serving life in prison. Ms. Bartels has also earned dismissals for clients charged with several drug offenses in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Ms. Bartels is committed and passionate about the practice of criminal defense. She is also an Adjunct Instructor at a local community college where she carries the same commitment and passion into her teaching.
“I remember sitting where my students are sitting and thinking how long the road lay ahead. Anything I can do to inspire and facilitate that journey for my students, I will.”
