USC junior charged with first-degree arson for throwing Molotov cocktail

USC student, Travis Toal, faces multiple criminal charges for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail into a residential house two years ago.

The incident occurred in his hometown of Lake Oswego, Oregon, on June 18, 2014, at 11pm. At the time, Toal, then 17, was attending Lake Oswego High School. According to a press release from the Lake Oswego police, Toal threw a Molotov cocktail into a house in the 4000 block of Upper Drive, while a family of four slept upstairs. The police stated the Molotov cocktail “was not very effective,” allowing the family the time to wake up and extinguish the fire inside their home.

Toal is currently a junior at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and a former member of the Trojan Marching Band and the Ski Team.

On Monday, December 19, 2016, over two years after the attack, Toal was arrested and sent to Clackamas County Jail in Oregon City, Oregon with a bail set at $250,000. Toal’s attorney, Steven L. Meyers, asked the court to release his client on personal recognizance or conditions. His request was denied and Toal remained in prison. On Tuesday, Alison Toal, Travis’s mother, submitted an affidavit to the Clackamas County Circuit Court requesting a reduction of her son’s bail because she did not have enough money to post bail. However, on Wednesday, around 7pm, his family posted the standard 10 percent of his $250,000 bail, and Toal was released into their custody.

Travis Toal’s mugshot at Clackamas County Jail on December 19, 2016

Toal still faces three counts of first-degree arson, two counts of unlawful manufacture of a destructive device and three counts of recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor. The motives for the alleged incident have not been determined. It is also unclear if Toal knew the family personally or if the attack was random.

Travis’s parents and their other two children remain supportive, stating in the affidavit, “I have never witnessed, nor am I aware of Travis ever threatening or hurting anyone in the past.” They continued by writing, “To the contrary, he is respectful of authority and a caring, responsible and sensitive individual.”

Travis’s mother also pointed to his impressive academic record and community involvement as proof of his respectful character. According to an affidavit from his family, he held a 3.85 GPA at Lake Oswego High and participated widely on campus. He was a school newspaper reporter and a co-anchor for their school newscast. Travis’s mother claims her son earns similar grades at USC.

Travis Toal’s twitter account

Toal’s next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Dec. 28. It is still unknown whether Travis Toal will return to USC for the spring semester.

The Tab contacted the Trojan Marching Band who declined to comment, stating that they, “were too busy planning the Rose Bowl to comment on Travis Toal.” The Tab also contacted Travis Toal via Facebook twice and did not receive a response.