Our Experts

Preston Schaub is a Supervising Deputy District Attorney with the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office in Woodland, California. Since beginning his prosecutorial career in 2015, Preston has prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, ranging from property crimes to complex and high-stakes violent felonies, including homicides and sexual assaults. He has extensive courtroom experience and has served as a trial team leader, mentoring newer prosecutors and helping shape case strategy on some of the office’s most sensitive and serious matters.

In his current role, Preston oversees several of the office’s innovative community-based programs aimed at reducing recidivism and addressing systemic issues in a more holistic way. He leads the office’s restorative justice and diversion efforts, which provide alternatives to traditional prosecution for individuals struggling with housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and substance use disorders. These programs emphasize accountability while seeking outcomes that promote long-term stability and public safety.

Preston also supervises the office’s “FastPass” program, a retailer direct-file initiative that enables asset protection specialists from retail organizations to submit complete case packets directly to the District Attorney’s Office for charging decisions. This innovative approach has increased efficiency, reduced the burden on local law enforcement, and improved outcomes in retail theft prosecutions through better documentation and collaboration with loss prevention professionals.

Beyond his casework, Preston has played a leadership role in policy development, stakeholder outreach, and program evaluation. He regularly collaborates with law enforcement, behavioral health experts, community organizations, and national partners to improve public safety responses and expand access to stabilizing services and support systems. He has also presented at state and national conferences on organized retail crime, restorative justice, and prosecutorial innovation.

Preston earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida, along with a certificate in criminal profiling. He later received his Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where he focused on trial advocacy and alternative dispute resolution.

Preston’s work reflects a balanced prosecution philosophy rooted in accountability, public safety, and the belief that individuals who are willing and able to do the hard work of rehabilitation and restoration deserve that opportunity—when it can be done safely. However, when someone poses a continuing risk to others, he will use every available tool, including incarceration, to ensure the safety and well-being of the public.