Tristan Pelayes

The Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC
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TRISTAN PELAYES

Attorney At Law

Prior to forming the Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC in November of 2019, Tristan Pelayes was an owner- partner at Wagner & Pelayes LLP for 15 years. Wagner & Pelayes LLP has represented the County of San Bernardino and other public and private entities since its inception in 2004.

Before becoming an attorney, Tristan was a deputy sheriff and detective for the County of San Bernardino for over fourteen years. His assignments included corrections, patrol, narcotics, SWAT, homicide, and the department’s civil liabilities division. He was also an investigator for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. He has approximately 30 years of combined law enforcement experience. 

Prior to forming the Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC in November of 2019, Tristan Pelayes was an owner-partner at Wagner & Pelayes LLP for 15 years. Wagner & Pelayes LLP has represented the County of San Bernardino and other public and private entities since its inception in 2004.  

Tristan Pelayes was a Deputy County Counsel for the County of San Bernardino for four years. Due to his extensive law enforcement background, Tristan was assigned to the county’s litigation unit, representing the County of San Bernardino’s Sheriff’s Department and its deputies in all aspects of civil litigation. This included the defense of excessive force, wrongful arrest and wrongful prosecution allegations, officer-involved shootings, other types of police incidents and employment issues. Tristan has also represented other county departments such as the District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department against allegations of civil rights violations and other related state torts.

Prior to that, Tristan was an associate at Kinkle, Rodiger, and Spriggs in Riverside, focusing primarily on insurance defense. Tristan has extensive jury trial experience in both state and federal courts, having tried to verdict approximately 30 jury trials.

  • Juris Doctor
    California Southern Law School – 
    Riverside, CA
  • Bachelor of Science in Laws
    California Southern Law School – Riverside, CA
  • Associate of Science Pre-Law
    Crafton Hills College – Yucaipa, CA
  • Owner-Partner – Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC
    November 2019 to present
    Responsible for handling the defense of public entities and employees and law enforcement unions.
  • Partner-Wagner & Pelayes, LLP
    (September 2004 to November 2019)
    Responsible for handling the defense of public entities and employees and insurance defense.
  • Deputy County Counsel for San Bernardino County
    July 2000 to August 2004
    Responsible for defending the County of San Bernardino, Board of Supervisors, Department Heads and individual departments, such as the District Attorney’s Office, Probation and Sheriff’s Department.
  • Attorney, Kinkle Rodiger and Spriggs
    January 2000 to July 2000
    Responsible for the defense of governmental entities and insurance civil cases.
  • Deputy Sheriff, County of San Bernardino
    July 1988 to January 2018
    Assignments included corrections, patrol, narcotics/SWAT, homicide and civil liabilities divisions.
  • California State Bar 
  • United States District Court, Central District of California
  • Inland Empire Federal Bar Association
  • Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association
  • Member District of Columbia Bar Association
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal

In 2001, the Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association named Tristan the Latino Lawyer of the Year. He was also twice the recipient of the Wiley Manuel Award from the California State Bar for his pro bona work within the Inland Empire.

Tristan also represents individual law enforcement officers through their membership in the Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement unions. Lastly, Tristan is a US Army veteran and has previously served as a council member for the City of Adelanto.

Tristan is also a helicopter pilot after six months of intense specialized flight training.

Tristan Pelayes with his helicopter

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TRISTAN PELAYES

  • Practicing law for 20+ years
  • 31 Years as a peace officer
  • Three degrees
  • Speaks Spanish

TRISTAN PELAYES

Attorney At Law

Prior to forming the Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC in November of 2019, Tristan Pelayes was an owner- partner at Wagner & Pelayes LLP for 15 years. Wagner & Pelayes LLP has represented the County of San Bernardino and other public and private entities since its inception in 2004.

Before becoming an attorney, Tristan was a deputy sheriff and detective for the County of San Bernardino for over fourteen years. His assignments included corrections, patrol, narcotics, SWAT, homicide, and the department’s civil liabilities division. He was also an investigator for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. He has approximately 30 years of combined law enforcement experience. 

Prior to forming the Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC in November of 2019, Tristan Pelayes was an owner-partner at Wagner & Pelayes LLP for 15 years. Wagner & Pelayes LLP has represented the County of San Bernardino and other public and private entities since its inception in 2004.  

Tristan Pelayes was a Deputy County Counsel for the County of San Bernardino for four years. Due to his extensive law enforcement background, Tristan was assigned to the county’s litigation unit, representing the County of San Bernardino’s Sheriff’s Department and its deputies in all aspects of civil litigation. This included the defense of excessive force, wrongful arrest and wrongful prosecution allegations, officer-involved shootings, other types of police incidents and employment issues. Tristan has also represented other county departments such as the District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department against allegations of civil rights violations and other related state torts.

Prior to that, Tristan was an associate at Kinkle, Rodiger, and Spriggs in Riverside, focusing primarily on insurance defense. Tristan has extensive jury trial experience in both state and federal courts, having tried to verdict approximately 30 jury trials.

  • Juris Doctor
    California Southern Law School – 
    Riverside, CA
  • Bachelor of Science in Laws
    California Southern Law School – Riverside, CA
  • Associate of Science Pre-Law
    Crafton Hills College – Yucaipa, CA
  • Owner-Partner – Law Offices of Pelayes & Yu, APC
    November 2019 to present
    Responsible for handling the defense of public entities and employees and law enforcement unions.
  • Partner-Wagner & Pelayes, LLP
    (September 2004 to November 2019)
    Responsible for handling the defense of public entities and employees and insurance defense.
  • Deputy County Counsel for San Bernardino County
    July 2000 to August 2004
    Responsible for defending the County of San Bernardino, Board of Supervisors, Department Heads and individual departments, such as the District Attorney’s Office, Probation and Sheriff’s Department.
  • Attorney, Kinkle Rodiger and Spriggs
    January 2000 to July 2000
    Responsible for the defense of governmental entities and insurance civil cases.
  • Deputy Sheriff, County of San Bernardino
    July 1988 to January 2018
    Assignments included corrections, patrol, narcotics/SWAT, homicide and civil liabilities divisions.
  • California State Bar 
  • United States District Court, Central District of California
  • Inland Empire Federal Bar Association
  • Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association
  • Member District of Columbia Bar Association
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal
  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal

In 2001, the Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association named Tristan the Latino Lawyer of the Year. He was also twice the recipient of the Wiley Manuel Award from the California State Bar for his pro bona work within the Inland Empire.

Tristan also represents individual law enforcement officers through their membership in the Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement unions. Lastly, Tristan is a US Army veteran and has previously served as a council member for the City of Adelanto.

Tristan is also a helicopter pilot after six months of intense specialized flight training.

Tristan Pelayes with his helicopter