Criminal Defense
Expungement & Record Sealing Attorney in San Diego
Your past shouldn't define your future. We help San Diego clients clear their records and reclaim their opportunities.
An old conviction can quietly hold you back for years — costing you jobs, housing, and professional licenses long after you've paid your debt. California law offers powerful tools to clean up your record, and Tegnelia & DeBose, APC helps San Diego clients use them. Through expungement under Penal Code 1203.4, we can have a qualifying conviction dismissed so you can lawfully tell most employers you were not convicted. We also pursue arrest-record sealing under PC 851.8 and 851.91, reductions of felonies to misdemeanors under PC 17(b), and early termination of probation. For those with a criminal past behind them, this is often the single most important step toward a fresh start. This page also covers probation-violation matters — because resolving a violation is frequently the first step toward clearing your record.
What We Handle
Charges & Cases We Defend
Our defense covers the full range of related charges and proceedings. If your situation isn't listed, call us — we handle it.
(619) 876-0992The Process
How We Defend Your Case
Every case is different, but our approach is disciplined and relentless from the first call to the final resolution.
Review Your Record
We pull and analyze your criminal history to identify every conviction and arrest eligible for relief.
Choose the Right Tool
We match your situation to the best remedy — expungement, sealing, reduction, or a certificate of rehabilitation.
File & Advocate
We prepare and file the petitions and, when needed, appear in court to argue that relief serves the interests of justice.
Confirm the Result
We verify the record is updated so you can move forward with confidence in job and housing applications.
How Clearing Your Record Helps
The right relief can reopen doors that a conviction closed. Eligibility depends on the offense, the sentence, and your compliance. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Lawfully answer 'no' to most private-employer conviction questions
- Improve access to jobs, housing, and professional licensing
- Reduce a felony to a misdemeanor under PC 17(b)
- Potentially restore certain firearm and civil rights
- End probation early and put the case behind you
The Difference
Why Hire a Private Criminal Defense Attorney
When your freedom and future are at stake, the right advocate makes all the difference. Here's what you get with a dedicated private defense team.
Time & Attention
Public defenders are overworked and stretched thin. We limit our caseload so your case gets the focus it deserves.
Early Intervention
We get involved from day one — often before charges are filed — when the biggest opportunities to change the outcome exist.
Independent Investigation
We deploy our own investigators and experts rather than relying on the police report the prosecution hands us.
Direct Access
You work directly with your attorney, not a rotating cast. Call, text, or email — we keep you informed at every step.
FAQ
Expungements & Record Sealing FAQs
Answers to common questions about expungements & record sealing cases in San Diego.
Many misdemeanor and felony convictions qualify once you've completed probation and aren't currently charged with or serving a sentence for another offense. We'll review your record and tell you exactly what's possible.
Charged with Expungements & Record Sealing? Don't wait.
The sooner we get involved, the more we can do. Your first consultation is free.
Related Practice Areas
Explore Related Defenses
Get a Free, Confidential Case Review
Speak directly with Attorney Marcus DeBose about your case. No pressure, no judgment — just a clear plan to protect your future.
- Free Consultation
- Se Habla Español
- 24/7 Case Review
- Former Prosecutor Insight