DA’s Office Makes Filing Decisions in Connection with Downtown Riverside Protest Vehicle Incident
June 18, 2025
RIVERSIDE – The DA’s Office has made filing decisions related to an incident that happened during the “No Kings” protest in Downtown Riverside last weekend.
Today, June 18, 2025, based on evidence provided to the DA’s Office from the Riverside Police Department’s investigation, the office filed a criminal complaint with charges against a man for striking a woman with his vehicle during the protest and against a woman involved after the incident occurred.
Russell Alan Prentice, DOB: 3-5-1967, of Riverside, is being charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of hit-and-run causing injury, as well as an allegation of causing great bodily injury to the victim. Prentice also has two prior strike offenses for convictions outside Riverside County.
Candase Amandalee Wenzel, DOB: 3-23-1986, also of Riverside, is being charged with one count of accessory after the fact.
A criminal complaint has been submitted to the Riverside County Superior Court and is awaiting filing by the court and the court issuing a case number.
On Saturday, June 14, a protest with several thousand participants took place in Downtown Riverside. At about 9:10 p.m., while a large group of protesters was walking along University Avenue between Orange and Main streets, a black SUV drove into the crowd and struck a young woman. The vehicle then fled the scene. The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
The DA’s Division of Victim Services is working closely with the victim’s family.
The Defendants’ arraignments are currently scheduled for Friday, June 20, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in Dept. 53 at the Hall of Justice of Riverside.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy DA Timothy Brown of the DA’s Major Crimes Division.
