PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tusitala Toese, a familiar right-wing protester known by his nickname “Tiny,” pleaded guilty to a 2018 assault, was put on probation and banned from any protests in Multnomah County for 2 years.
Toese, 23, was arrested on October 4 at the Portland International Airport for outstanding warrants for 3rd- and 4th-degree assault connected to an incident in 2018. He changed his plea to guilty in a court appearance Tuesday morning.
The self-described “proud western chauvinist” and member of the Proud Boys is accused of assaulting Tim Ledwith on June 8, 2018.
In a victim impact statement on Tuesday, Ledwith said he preferred Toese not go to jail. The Multnomah County DA’s Office said he was informed about the pre-trial negotiations and supported the plea deal.
Senior Deputy DA Nathan Vasquez said Toese’s actions were part of “an ongoing conflict” with people with different political views, including Ledwith.
“The court imposed condition that bars Mr. Toese from attending mass demonstrations in our county is appropriate given all of the facts of this case,” Vasquez said in a statement.
If Toese violates his probation, he could be sentenced to a year in jail.
Toese said he’s done fighting and he’s done with Patriot Prayer and its leader, Joey Gibson.
“My political time and protest time is over. I’m laying it to rest,” Toese told KOIN 6 News. “I am going to focus on what’s more important in life, my family and God.”
“If the experience changed him,” Ledwith said, “then it was worth it.”
Along with the 2-year probation, Toese must do 80 hours of community service, not have any contact with Ledwith, can’t attend any protests and pay $1821.60 in restitution to Ledwith.
The judge waived the restitution over Toese’s inability to pay.
Second person pleaded guilty
A little more than a year after the assault, another Proud Boys member, Donovan Flippo, pleaded guilty in the attack.
The victim told police he was crossing south on Northeast 12th Avenue and Broadway when he noticed a truck stopped at a red light. The people inside of the truck were shouting “politically-based comments,” the victim said. Police said the victim yelled back and Flippo got out of the truck, argued with the victim and assaulted him — leaving him with a concussion and in need of stitches to his lip.
Flippo pleaded guilty to the assault in July 2019. He was sentenced to 8 days in jail, 2 years probation and community service.
2 plead guilty to riot charge
On Monday, 2 men of 6 accused of inciting a riot between right-wing Patriot Prayer and left-leaning antifa outside a Portland pub pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
Matthew Cooper pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of riot outside the now-shuttered Cider Riot pub during the May Day clash. In addition to the ban on attending protests, Cooper was sentenced to three years of probation.
Christopher Ponte pleaded no contest to riot and was sentenced to the protesting ban, three years probation and 10 days in jail.