BRANDON TOWNSHIP – Travis Gordon McIntosh, 19, has been charged with two counts of felony and a misdemeanor in exchange for a night of alleged malicious destruction.
The felony charges are for arson of a dwelling and of placing explosives with intent to destroy and cause injury, and each carry 20-year sentences upon conviction. A third charge, for willful neglect burning of woods and prairies, is a misdemeanor, with a potential sentence of four years.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Department reports, the Brandon High School student was caught tampering with a mailbox on Ramsey Road, on Oct. 10, 2002.
The homeowner said he saw a vehicle parked near his mailbox, and a young man was trying to pull the box off the post. The resident allegedly picked up a bottle and hit the vehicle, smashing the passenger side windshield, before the young man and a yet-to-be-charged accomplice drove off.
Almost two hours later, the homeowner saw flames climbing up the exterior wall of his garage. He was able to extinguish the flames before the fire department arrived.
The strong odor of gasoline around the burn site brought Oakland County Fire Investigator Art Schrah to the scene. An area search revealed remnants of a Molotov cocktail in the trees.
Further investigation led investigators to the truck with the smashed windshield, which is owned by McIntosh.
According to reports, McIntosh allegedly bragged to acquaintances in Oxford that he and a friend were responsible for the fire.
The Oxford Township resident was arraigned Jan. 11 and appeared before 52-2 District Judge Michael Batchik for a preliminary exam Friday, Feb. 21.
Because McIntosh had a new attorney who said he did not have time to adequately prepare his defense, the judge agreed to continue the preliminary exam to Friday, April 4.
McIntosh stood silent as Batchik attached severe restrictions to the $50,000 personal bond, warning that any violation of bond conditions will land McIntosh in jail again until his exam date.
“Mr. McIntosh, you will go on an electric monitor and be confined to your home,” Batchik said. “That means you can not leave the house; you are not to have contact with witnesses or codependents.
“You are marked now. Do you understand that?” the judge asked. “The police will watch you, and you will pay a penalty.”
Previous to the arraignment, McIntosh was jailed for two weeks for violation of his original bond.
Police are attempting to apprehend the second suspect, who is believed to be out of state.