BEAUFORT COUNTY OFFICE: 

Physical Location: 1905 Duke Street, Suite 210 - Beaufort, South Carolina 

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 525 Beaufort, SC 29901               

Main Directory: (843) 255-5807

Fax Number: (843) 255-9494    

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE: 

To apply for a Public Defender regarding a charge and/or charges in Beaufort County General Sessions Court, Beaufort or Bluffton Magistrate Court, and/or a Beaufort, Bluffton or Port Royal Municipal Court, please apply at the Beaufort County Clerk of Court's Office located at 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208 in Beaufort, South Carolina.  Please take a copy of all of your pending warrants and/or tickets with you when applying. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact the Beaufort County Clerk of Court's Office at (843) 255-5056 or (843) 255-5057. There is a $40.00 application fee when applying for a Public Defender.                     

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you would like to reach the Beaufort County Public Defender's Office or have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us at 843-255-5807. 

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you know the attorney and/or staff member with whom you need to speak with, please contact them at the information listed below: 

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION:     

YESSICA MEJIA

• Administrative Assistant for the Beaufort County Public Defender's Office 
• Office: (843) 255-5807

JENNIFER PETROFF

• Bond Court Administrative Assistant/ Coordinator for the Beaufort County Public Defender's Office
• Office: (843) 255-5821

DR. LATERIA JAMES

• Mitigation Specialist 
• Office: (843) 255-5803

MEYOKA GRIFFIN

• Sentencing Specialist 
• Office: (843) 255-5803

CHRISTY COMPTON- ESTRADA 

• Investigator for the 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office 
• Office: (843) 255-5806

SHANIQUIA JENKINS

• Investigator for the 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office 
• Office: (843) 255-5812

LEE PADGETT

• Investigator for 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office 
• Office: (843) 255-5813

 

ATTORNEY CONTACT INFORMATION: 

STEPHANIE SMART-GITTINGS

•    Circuit Public Defender           

COURTNEY GIBBES

• Deputy Public Defender for the 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office  
• Office: (843) 255-5818

JACOB MCFADDEN

• Senior Managing Attorney for the Beaufort County Public Defender's Office 
• Office: (843) 255-5825

ELEANOR CLEARY

• Public Defender
• Office: (843) 255-5810

TAYLOR DIGGS 

• Public Defender
• Office: (843) 255-5820

GABRIEL INGRAM

• Public Defender
• Office: (843) 255-5819

PHILIP LITTLE

• Public Defender
• Office: (843) 255-5808

VINCENT OTTOMANELLI

• Public Defender
• Office: (843) 255-5814

PHILIP RIOS

• Public Defender
• Cell: (843) 812-2823

MICHAEL SALAS

• Public Defender  
• Cell: (843) 441-4132

 

BEAUFORT COUNTY MAGISTRATE COURT DIVISION

Beaufort Magistrate Court: 

If you are trying to reach an attorney for a Beaufort County Magistrate Court case, please contact Philip Rios, Public Defender handling Beaufort Magistrate Court cases at (843) 812-2823.

Bluffton Magistrate Court: 

If you are trying to reach an attorney for a Bluffton Magistrate Court case, please contact Michael Salas, Public Defender handing Bluffton Magistrate Court cases at (843) 441-4132.

Application for a Public Defender for a Beaufort/ Bluffton Magistrate Court Case: 

To apply for a Public Defender regarding a Magistrate Court charge in Beaufort County, please apply in person at the Beaufort County Clerk of Court's Office located at 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208 in Beaufort, South Carolina.  Please take a copy of your tickets with you when applying for a Public Defender. You should contact the Beaufort County Clerk of Court at (843) 255-5057 to obtain information on the application process for the Public Defender's Office. There is a $40.00 application fee which must be paid in cash. 

For all other calls please contact (843) 255-5807. 

 

BEAUFORT COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT DIVISION

(Beaufort Municipal Court, Bluffton Municipal Court, and Port Royal Municipal Court) 

To apply for a Public Defender regarding a Municipal Court charge and/or charges, please apply in person at the Beaufort County Clerk of Court's Office located at 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 208 in Beaufort, South Carolina.  Please take a copy of your tickets with you when applying for a Public Defender. You should contact the Beaufort County Clerk of Court at (843) 255-5050 to obtain information on the application process for the Public Defender's Office. There is a $40.00 application fee when applying. If you are unable to pay this application fee, please speak with the Clerk of Court's Office. 

PUBLIC DEFENDER MUNICIPAL COURT DIVISION CONTACT INFORMATION: 

• Main Number: (843) 255-5823
• Fax: (843) 255-9494

CATHERINE WEBB

• Judicial Assistant/ Investigator for the Beaufort, Bluffton and Port Royal Municipal Courts Division
• Office: (843) 255-5000

EVE FLEMING

• Senior Managing Attorney for the Beaufort County Public Defender's Office Municipal Court Division 
• Office: (843) 255-5823

CAROL MILLER

• Public Defender for the Beaufort, Bluffton and Port Royal Municipal Courts Division
• Office: (843) 255-5824

 

FOURTEENTH CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE JUVENILE DIVISION 

TRENA PATTERSON

• Judicial Assistant for the 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office Juvenile Division
• Office: (843) 255-5817

KIMBERLY JORDAN

• Senior Managing Attorney for the 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office Juvenile Division 
• Office: (843) 255-5815

EVE FLEMING

• Public Defender for the 14th Circuit Public Defender's Office Juvenile Division
• Senior Managing Attorney for the Beaufort County Public Defender's Office Municipal Courts Division
• Office: (843) 255-5817