About Diane
Diane was raised in a family with a long history of defending justice. Her father was a California Highway Patrolman, who worked his way up to Chief, and her two brothers also became law enforcement agents.
Diane made a decision at a young age to follow the family business and devote her life to protecting people. She began that journey at the California Highway Patrol academy, before an injury forced her to change plans. She instead worked for nine years in administrative positions with the CHP, including in the cadet hiring unit, internal affairs, and in the legislative office. While working at the CHP, Diane attended law school, earning her J.D. from Lincoln Law School and eventually becoming a Deputy District Attorney in Yolo County.
As a prosecutor, Diane has delivered to justice in a variety of serious criminal cases, prosecuting crimes related to domestic violence, crimes against children, sexual assault, and even murder. Throughout all her casework, Diane has maintained an absolute commitment to protecting the vulnerable and delivering justice to victims.
“During her career in the District Attorney’s Office, Diane has also been a strong champion of alternative pathways to justice, including diversion programs that prevent first time offenders from having to navigate the criminal justice system in a way that increases the likelihood of reoffending.”
Diane has also launched and helped lead several youth programs like “DA for a Day” and the “Youth Leadership Academy” which both aimed to introduce minority and underrepresented school communities to higher education and careers in law.
In recognition of her work in the community and as a prosecutor, Diane was awarded the Mexican-American Concilio of Yolo County’s Board of Directors Award and was selected by her peers to receive the Annie Busta Perpetual Award of Excellence.
Diane is a reflection of our diverse community in Yolo County, with her family representing several generations of residents. Her grandfather came from Mexico as an immigrant and found work in the fields of Yolo County. Diane's husband, John, spent twenty-two years as a Yolo County Deputy Sheriff and five years as a Davis Police Officer.