Pascual Benitez:

I graduated with a Criminal Justice B.S. degree from San Diego State University in 2001. In 2005 I received my C.C.D.I. certificate through D.I.T.A. and Allan Hancock College. I started my career with the San Diego County Alternate Public Defenders office in 2000 as an intern. I quickly became interested in defense investigations and was hired as a student worker, which lead into a permanent position as an investigator in 2003. I've enjoyed working on criminal defense investigations as well as dependency case investigations over the course of my career.

I've attended several D.I.A. conferences as well as the Defense Investigator's Training Academy. Investigations have always held a special place in my life. I feel that the D.I.A. is important in that it provides education, training, a means for networking, and helps to establish a level of professionalism for our field of work.