Choosing a criminal defense lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will make after an arrest or investigation. Serious charges can carry prison time, sex offender registration, and consequences that follow you for the rest of your life, and the prosecution has investigators, experts, and experienced trial lawyers on its side.

At the Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC, we defend people accused of crimes in San Diego County and throughout Southern California. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about our firm, the cases we handle, and what clients can expect when working with our team.

What does the Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong do?

The Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC is a San Diego criminal defense firm. We defend people charged with felonies and misdemeanors in state and federal court, from first arrest through trial and post-conviction relief.

Kerry Armstrong opened the firm in June 2007. We are a small, hand-picked team, and every attorney at the firm focuses on criminal defense. We do not handle personal injury, family law, civil litigation, or other non-criminal matters.

What criminal cases does the firm handle?

We handle the full range of California criminal defense matters, including:

See all case types.

Does the firm handle sex crime cases?

Yes. Sex crimes are a primary focus of Kerry Armstrong’s practice. He has described them publicly as harder to defend than murder.

Kerry has won not guilty verdicts in cases involving forcible rape, child molestation, sexual battery, forcible oral copulation, and other serious sex offenses. In one case, a client facing 348 years to life on 38 counts of child molestation and rape was found not guilty on every count.

If you are under investigation but have not been charged, contacting a lawyer early can matter. Learn more about our sex crimes defense.

Can the firm help after a conviction?

Yes. We handle post-conviction relief, including expungements, reductions of felonies to misdemeanors, and Prop 47 felony reductions.

Who are the attorneys at the firm?

Kerry L. Armstrong founded the firm and leads its trial work. He has been a licensed California attorney since 1998, after graduating cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1997 and passing the California Bar on his first attempt. He earned his undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

Kerry is certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in criminal law. He has tried more than 110 cases to jury trial and is admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Middle District of Florida, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

His recognition includes:

  • Trial Lawyer of the Year, San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association, 2026, his second time receiving the honor
  • Attorney of the Year, The Recorder, 2012
  • Selected to Super Lawyers® every year from 2014 through 2026, and named to the Super Lawyers Top 50 San Diego list in 2017, 2025, and 2026
  • Best Lawyers® and Best Law Firms®, 2024
  • Top Attorney, Los Angeles Magazine and the San Diego Business Journal, 2014

Lindsay S. Cortez is a criminal defense attorney at the firm. Before law school, she served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 2016 to 2020 at MCAS Miramar. She earned her law degree from California Western School of Law in December 2024, passed the California Bar on her first try, and became a licensed attorney in May 2025. During law school, she interned at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office, later returning as a post-bar law clerk, and worked in California Western’s Innocence and Justice Clinic on wrongful conviction cases.

What does it mean that Kerry Armstrong is a certified criminal law specialist?

In 2020, Kerry became certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in criminal law. Earning the certification required passing a separate exam focused on criminal law, completing continuing legal education in criminal law, and receiving favorable evaluations from judges and attorneys familiar with his work.

For clients, it means your case is led by an attorney whose criminal law knowledge and courtroom work have been independently reviewed.

Has Kerry Armstrong handled high-profile cases?

Yes. Kerry’s cases have been covered in more than 100 media mentions, including Law & Order: Crime & Punishment, Dateline, the Today Show, USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, Court TV, Nancy Grace, Cuomo Prime Time, and the Daily Mail, as well as San Diego news stations. See our In the News page.

What sets the firm apart?

Several things distinguish our approach.

First, we are trial lawyers. Kerry has tried more than 110 cases to a jury, including murder, attempted murder, and sex crime cases where clients faced life in prison. We build every case with trial in mind, even when the goal is the best possible negotiated outcome.

Second, we aim for real results. We do not view a marginally reduced charge as a success. We pursue acquittals, dismissals, and outcomes that genuinely change the course of a client’s case.

Third, we are small by design. Kerry is selective about who joins the team, and clients work directly with their attorney.

Finally, we communicate. Clients and their families are kept informed throughout the case, and we offer services in Spanish, including a Spanish-language website.

What results has the firm achieved?

Results listed on our results page include not guilty verdicts in cases involving:

  • First-degree murder, including a case with a special circumstance allegation
  • Conspiracy to commit murder and premeditated attempted murder
  • Child molestation, including a 38-count case in which the client faced 348 years to life
  • Forcible rape, rape of an intoxicated person, and rape in concert
  • Kidnapping, torture, and robbery
  • Assault with a firearm, a vehicle, or a knife
  • Domestic violence and domestic battery

Other results include charges dismissed by the judge for insufficient evidence, including in an attempted murder case during trial.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its own facts and evidence.

Will the firm take my case to trial?

Yes, when that is what your case needs.

Not every case should go to a jury, and sometimes a dismissal or a strong negotiated outcome is the right result. But prosecutors evaluate a case differently when they know the defense is prepared to try it. We prepare every case with trial in mind, and we take cases to trial when the offer is not good enough.

In 2026, the San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association named Kerry its Trial Lawyer of the Year after a year that included multiple full acquittals, a dismissal following a retrial, and not guilty verdicts in a high-profile federal prosecution.

What happens after I hire the firm?

Once you hire us, we start building your defense. Depending on the case, that can include investigating the facts, gathering and preserving evidence, filing pretrial motions, challenging the prosecution’s evidence, negotiating with prosecutors, and preparing for trial.

Throughout the case, we give you an honest assessment of where things stand, keep you informed at every stage, and communicate with your family when you want us to.

How much does it cost to hire the firm?

Consultations are free and confidential.

The firm generally works on a flat-fee retainer, so you know your legal costs upfront. For certain specialized or complex matters, an hourly arrangement may be available.

Where does the firm handle cases?

Our office is in downtown San Diego, and we represent clients throughout San Diego County, including Chula Vista and Oceanside. We also handle cases in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, and in federal court.

Can the firm help if I live out of state or my family member was arrested in San Diego?

Yes. We regularly work with clients who live outside San Diego and with family members who are hiring a lawyer for a loved one who was arrested here. We keep clients and their families informed throughout the case, wherever they live.

Do you help Spanish-speaking clients?

Yes. We offer services in Spanish and have a full Spanish-language website.

How quickly should I contact a criminal defense lawyer?

As soon as possible, ideally before you talk to police or investigators.

If you are under investigation but have not been charged, early representation can affect whether charges are filed and what they are. After an arrest, early decisions about bail, statements, and evidence can shape the rest of the case.

What should I have ready for my consultation?

You do not need to have everything before you call. However, it can help to have:

  • Any paperwork from your arrest or release, including bail or bond documents
  • Your court date and case number, if you have them
  • Any letters, voicemails, or messages from police or investigators
  • A short timeline of what happened
  • The names of any witnesses

Do not discuss the facts of your case with anyone else before you speak with a lawyer.

How do I speak with an attorney at the firm?

You can contact the Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong by calling (619) 234-2300 or submitting the form on our website. Our office is at 750 B Street, Suite 2840, San Diego, CA 92101.

Consultations are free and confidential. Tell us what happened, and we will give you an honest assessment of your case and your next steps.