Victoria activist pleads guilty to child sexual assault
James Douglas Prentice, known for his activism with Extinction Rebellion and the Fairy Creek blockades, has entered guilty pleas on one count of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference of a person under 14, with offences dating to 1991.
James Douglas Prentice, who goes by the moniker "Captain Painfully Obvious," entered guilty pleas on one count of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference of a person under 14 at the Port Alberni Law Courts. The offences took place in Tofino in July 1991.
Prentice's legal team first entered an intention to plead guilty in June 2024, according to court documents. The presiding judge accepted the plea for one count of sexual assault. Prentice's legal team confirmed his intention to plead guilty to all three counts in September 2025. Proceedings are ongoing. Prentice is not currently in custody and is awaiting a psychiatric evaluation scheduled for June 17.
Family members of Prentice told Capital Daily that the 1991 case is one of at least seven alleged instances of child sexual assault committed by him, including against children under the age of six. Prentice is known in Victoria for his activism, including with the Extinction Rebellion Movement and the Fairy Creek blockades, and he founded the No Shit, Sherlock! Political Action Committee. He also competed on Season 8 of Dragon's Den.
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