Desert Hot Springs Councilmember Russell Betts Pleads Not Guilty in Road Rage Case

Desert Hot Springs Councilmember Russell Betts Pleads Not Guilty to Road Rage Charges Desert Hot Springs City Councilmember and recent mayoral candidate Russell Betts entered not guilty pleas yesterday at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The charges stem from an alleged road rage incident on August 4th. Betts faces a felony count of vandalism and a misdemeanor count of false imprisonment. Prosecutors accuse him of following another driver, whom he believed had cut him off in traffic, to a 7-Eleven. There, Betts allegedly parked his car in a manner that trapped the other driver inside their vehicle and caused damage during the confrontation. The defendant is scheduled to appear in court for a felony settlement conference on March 6th, where further proceedings will determine the next steps in the case. Betts, a prominent figure in Desert Hot Springs politics, has not publicly commented on the charges. This legal matter comes on the heels of his recent campaign for mayor, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the case. Stay updated on this developing story by visiting the newsroom section of our website.