Proud Boy ‘Tiny’ Toese guilty of assault, riot after 2021 street fight
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Proud Boys member Tusitala “Tiny” Toese was found guilty of 10 charges that include assault, riot and criminal mischief on Thursday in Portland, the Multnomah County District Attorney announced Friday.
The verdict was issued by Judge Amy Baggio, as the 26-year-old Toese waived his right to a jury trial. He now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years in prison, but the DA’s office said they will be asking for more at his scheduled March 24 sentencing.
Judge Baggio ruled that Toese was guilty on two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, two counts of riot and two counts of first-degree criminal mischief. He was acquitted of one assault charge.
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The charges are related to an Aug. 22, 2021 rally that Toese helped organize in an empty Kmart parking lot at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard, according to court documents.
“During this rally, Toese gave various speeches and incited the crowd with statements like, ‘When Antifa shows up, show them no mercy,’” the DA said. “When Antifa members showed up at the rally, members of the Proud Boys immediately attacked them.”
According to court documents, Toese and his group started a fight with rally protesters. Dressed in tactical gear, Toese and his group were armed with paintball guns, firearms, blunt weapons, explosive devices and bear spray.
About an hour and a half after the fight began, protesters brought a decommissioned ambulance to the scene. Toese’s group attacked the vehicle and people inside with paintballs, mace and blunt weapons, causing extensive damage, according to court documents.
The people inside fled on foot and the vehicle rolled into a patch of bushes.
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Toese’s group pursued the rally protesters south on 122nd Avenue, with both sides throwing explosives, the documents say.
At Toese’s command, most of his group returned to the main rally while Toese and a smaller group followed the protesters to the Parkrose High School parking lot.
At that parking lot, Toese noticed a man sitting in a truck with items that suggested he was one of the rally protesters.
Toese yelled, “He is Antifa,” and smashed the driver’s side window with a baseball bat. Following Toese’s directions, his group began breaking the remaining windows, popped the truck’s tires and attacked the driver. The driver was eventually able to escape.
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According to court documents, Toese was indicted on Dec. 16, 2021, but he was not found and arrested until March. At his March 23, 2022 arraignment, he pleaded “not guilty” to 11 charges.
He was released with conditions on June 10, 2022 to await trial. The judge ordered Toese be monitored by Close Street Supervision using GPS, and that any violation would result in rearrest.
However, according to court documents, Toese allowed his GPS monitor to go dead for 24 hours and did not respond to attempts at contact. Judge Jenna Plank issued a second warrant for his arrest on Nov. 15, 2022.
Toese was rearrested on Jan. 19, 2023 and this time, the judge set his bail at $1 million, according to court records.
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After the Thursday verdict, the deputy district attorney said, “Due to Mr. Toese’s long-term involvement in violent activity, the state is seeking enhancements to increase Mr. Toese’s sentence above the mandatory minimum sentence of 70 months in prison.”
Toese’s sentencing is scheduled for March 24 with Judge Baggio.
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