Posted on 11/19/2004 12:41:38 PM PST by LouAvul
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A graduate student was convicted Friday of setting fire to dozens of sport utility vehicles and causing more than $2 million in damage, but was cleared of the most serious charge against him.
William Jensen Cottrell, 24, was found guilty in U.S. District Court of conspiracy to commit arson and seven counts of arson. But the jury acquitted him of attempting to use a destructive device in a crime of violence - Molotov cocktails - a charge that carried a sentence of at least 30 years in prison.
He will be sentenced March 12, and faces at least five years in prison.
The charges against Cottrell, a doctoral candidate at the California Institute of Technology, stemmed from an August 2003 firebombing and vandalism spree at dealerships and homes in San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
What alittle jerk! Should give him the maximum but hey it's P.C. California so he'll probably get off light
This kid is a terrorist. Treat him as such.
"Hi, honey! My name is Spike, and your new name is B!tch!"
Sigh....so many more to go.
Was this the kid of the RAT legislator?
Proof that advanced education makes you stupid.
What kind of crap are they teaching in colleges today. I bet this loser/criminal has learned nothing but hate-America themes worthless, baked-up knowledge in liberal hoo-ha.
Two million dollars in damages and facing 5 years? Not bad!
Only five years? Damn. This eco-terrorist deserved more since he *is* a terrorist!
He must have one heck of a lawyer. Too bad it didn't happen in a school parking lot, they would have really thrown the book at him then. But evil car dealerships? Naaaah..they can take the loss! (/sarcasm off)
William Jensen Cottrell
Will CalTech DENY him his doctorate? They should. And I believe they have that right.
FYI
oops. spray paint!
His defense was that he couldn't help it because he had Asperger's Syndrome.
http://brianoconnor.typepad.com/animal_crackers/2004/11/william_cottrel.html
I wonder what field he was working in at CIT and whether he took one of those political activism courses?
Yeah, vandalism against business is seen more as a first ammendment thing, I guess.
THIS sap deserves 55 yrs, too.
Obit: William Jensen Cottrell, American terrorist, raped to death in prison.
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