Born and raised in Northern California by his father, a union electrician, and his mother, who taught elementary school for over 30 years, Felton Newell attended public primary and secondary schools.

While attending college at Georgetown University, Newell served as National Treasurer of the College Democrats of America, and he interned in the offices of Congressmen George Miller and David Skaggs. At the age of 22, Felton worked in former President Bill Clinton's White House in the office that negotiates with members of Congress to draft and pass laws.

After working at the White House, Felton attended law school at the University of Chicago where he studied under President Barack Obama. Felton was a member of the Legal Forum Journal, and he was a semi-finalist in the Hinton Moot Court competition. After law school, Felton practiced law in national law firms representing some of the biggest companies in the country. While serving as a corporate lawyer, Felton was awarded the 2004 Wiley Manuel Pro Bono Award for his work representing low income tenants who were unfairly evicted.

In 2006, Felton left his corporate law job to serve the people of this community as a prosecutor in the Los Angeles City Attorney's office. Felton has prosecuted 28 criminal misdemeanor cases to a jury verdict, including cases involving domestic violence, vandalism and criminal assault. Felton also has forced lax property owners in the 33rd district to retake control of their properties from gang members and drug dealers who were using the buildings as bases for criminal activity. Felton currently serves as a neighborhood prosecutor in downtown Los Angeles. In this position, Felton meets with community, business and political leaders to identify the quality of life crimes affecting the citizens who work and live downtown, and develops strategies to reduce those crimes.

Felton also has served the community as a big brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and as a member of 100 Black Men of Los Angeles. In 2007, Felton served as President of the Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals, where he led an organization of nearly 1,000 members who were engaged in activities that improved the economic and political well being of disenfranchised individuals throughout the region.

Felton, 38, is a member of Holman United Methodist Church and lives in Windsor Hills.