Child sex predator in Southern California dies in jail

An inmate facing 11 felony charges at the Robert Presley Detention Center was pronounced dead in his cell, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday.

An inmate locator search showed that the deceased, who officials identified as 39-year-old Anthony Wayne Brooks of Riverside, faced 5 felony counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, as well as charges for illegal gun possession, DUI, vandalism, paraphernalia and more.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies found Brooks unresponsive in his housing unit cell on Sunday and attempted to perform life-saving measures until paramedics arrived.

However, despite their efforts, the sheriff’s office said Brooks was ultimately pronounced deceased.

“Investigators from the Riverside Sheriff’s Office Corrections Central Investigations Unit responded and assumed the investigation,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a release.

Investigators did not immediately find any signs of foul play, according to officials.

According to the inmate locator search, Brooks was arrested on June 6, 2023, by the Jurupa Valley Police Department and did not have bail posted. Brooks had a court date set in February 2025.

Three years earlier, the Riverside Police Department arrested Brooks on Aug. 7, 2020, for negligent discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and high capacity magazine, and violations of both probation and Post Release Community Supervision, according to the department’s Facebook page.

Anthony Brooks, seen here in a mugshot after his 2020 arrest, was found dead in his cell on Dec. 22, 2024. (Riverside Police Department)
Anthony Brooks, seen here after his 2020 arrest, was found dead in his cell on Dec. 22, 2024. (Riverside Police Department)
After the Aug. 7, 2020 arrest of Anthony Brooks, police found a semi-automatic handgun, high capacity magazine and numerous ammunition. (Riverside Police Department)

At the time of his 2020 arrest, police said Brooks had been residing at a sober living house.

“During a search of the house, officers found a semi-automatic handgun, high capacity magazine, and numerous ammunition,” stated the department.

The sheriff’s office said Brooks’ death is an ongoing investigation, and that no further information was available as of Monday night.

Officials encourage anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Investigator Justin Williams at 951-922-7152.

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