Charges In Torching Of 125 SUVs

CBS News ^ | March 10, 2004

[presidio9]

A California Institute of Technology graduate student has been arrested in connection with an August arson and vandalism spree targeting 125 sports utility vehicles at four car dealerships, the FBI said.

William Cottrell, 23, used an alias when he e-mailed The Los Angeles Times, claiming to be a member of the eco-terrorist group Earth Liberation Front and offering specific details to prove his involvement in the firebombings, the FBI said.

“The FBI hasn't seemed to pick up on any of them (clues), which makes this whole ordeal rather boring for us, the true culprits,” one e-mail boasted, the FBI said in an affidavit.

Authorities searched Caltech classrooms and tracked the e-mails to Cottrell, a grad student in the physics department, according to the affidavit. They also seized six computers from the campus.

Cottrell was arrested for investigation of arson and vandalism. He was ordered held without bail at a court hearing. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, the U.S. attorney's office said.

“The charges are unfounded,” defense attorney Stephen Alexander said outside court.

Cottrell's father described his son as bright, hardworking and somewhat eccentric but incapable of the acts alleged by the government.

“We were hopeful he wouldn't be charged,” Dr. William Milnes Cottrell said from his Concord, N.C., home. “We are very unhappy about it. We are still reasonably sure he wasn't a primary agent in this deed.”

Prosecutors estimate the total damage was about $2.3 million.

“Those who set fires, like those at the Hummer dealership in West Covina, are misguided zealots,” FBI Assistant Director Richard Garcia said in a statement.

The firebombing spree hit four car dealerships and at least four privately owned vehicles in communities east of Pasadena, where Caltech is located and where Cottrell was arrested.

The West Covina attack destroyed or damaged 72 vehicles, mostly SUVs, and a parts warehouse.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the e-mails the newspaper received began several weeks after the attacks, when the FBI arrested an environmental activist named Josh Connole in connection with the fires.

"Hello, the police have the wrong man here — I was amongst those responsible for the SUV attacks," read the first e-mail sent to the Times.

Connole was released without charges four days after his arrest. Connole told the Times that he hoped Cottrell's arrest would end any doubts about his innocence.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[The Westerner]

You win the prize.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[oceanperch]

'Bout time ELF has been busy publishing many crimes done over the years.

One of the ex top ElF leaders now runs a vegan restraunt in Portland Oregon.

[csvset]

The Los Angeles Times reported that the e-mails the newspaper received began several weeks after the attacks, when the FBI arrested an environmental activist named Josh Connole in connection with the fires.

Connole was released without charges four days after his arrest. Connole told the Times that he hoped Cottrell's arrest would end any doubts about his innocence.

I remember Josh. While he may or may not be an arsonisit, he's still a d***head, imho.

Here's Josh hanging out with the ANSWER crowd.

Josh Conole and Emily Lutz

Josh will be speaking at the Hollywood March & Rally, Sunday, Sep 28, Noon, Assemble at Hollywood & Vine. End occupation Say NO to colonialism in Iraq, Palestine and everywhere.

[nlcatter1]

FBI friging idiots arrested the WRONG man again

but let FBI agents get by with
outing our russian deep cover agents!