Los Angeles, CA – A California parolee who drove a minivan at a group of protesters in downtown Los Angeles last summer has been sentenced to six years in state prison, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Prosecutors said 38-year-old Ulysses Sanchez pleaded no contest to one count of assault with a deadly weapon, admitting he used his vehicle as a weapon during the June 8, 2025, incident targeting anti-ICE demonstrators. He also acknowledged a prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon.
According to investigators, Sanchez drove directly toward protesters, then circled through the crowd several times before speeding away. No serious injuries were reported, but prosecutors said the act put multiple lives at risk.
- Parolee sentenced to six years for driving at protesters
- No serious injuries reported in downtown Los Angeles incident
- District Attorney says violence against peaceful demonstrators “will be prosecuted fully”
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right that strengthens our democracy; criminal activity is not,” said District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. He added that Sanchez’s prison term “sends a clear message that acts of violence against those exercising their right to protest will be met with accountability.”
The case, number 25CJCF03368, was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Mark Hara and investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
