Mobil Oil, Ex-Manager Cleared in Blast Case
Mobil Oil and a former refinery executive were found innocent of criminal charges Tuesday that they obstructed a Torrance Fire Department investigation into a July 15, 1988, explosion that killed one man and injured two others.
After Jesse Rodrigues, an assistant Torrance prosecutor, presented the city’s case--and without hearing any Mobil witnesses--South Coast Municipal Judge Josh Fredricks decided that the city had not proved its case and entered a verdict of not guilty for Mobil and the now-retired executive, Thomas Gregory. In 1988, he was the second-ranking manager at the Torrance refinery.
“We’re pleased with the way this thing went,” said Mobil spokesman Jim Carbonetti.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
