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A federal apeals court overturned William Cottrell's (aka Billy Cottrell), convictions on two counts of arson for his role in the 2003 torching of several sport utility vehicles (SUV) at San Gabriel Valley car dealers, attacks authorities blamed on a radical environmentalist group. The court ruled that the judge in his trial should have allowed testimony regarding Cottrell's Asperger's Syndrome, a disability that could have affected the jury's decision.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31675
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 11, 2009
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 11, 2009
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Arson
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Trials
Vandalism
Item ID
31873AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

William Cottrell's (aka Billy Cottrell), a former Caltech physics student who was in prison for participating in firebombing 100 vehicles in the San Gabriel Valley (Duarte, Arcadia, West Covina) in 2003, will be resentenced. The federal court has dropped arson charges against him but he remains convicted on a conspiracy charge. He could be released or face more prison time.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31805
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 10, 2009
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 10, 2009
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Arson
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Trials
Vandalism
Item ID
32002AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Former Caltech graduate student William "Billy" Cottrell was re-sentenced to serve at least 18 more months in prison for participating in a vandalism spree in the San Gabriel Valley in 2003.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31822
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 17, 2009
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 17, 2009
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Arson
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Trials
Vandalism
Item ID
32019AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

In William Cottrell's trial, the jury never got to hear evidence about his Asperger's Syndrome. Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that Asperger's could not be introduced at trial as a legal defense. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Klausner's ruling was a mistake and tossed out Cottrell's arson convictions, leaving only the conspiracy count. Last week Cottrell was re-sentenced to the original 100-month term for the conspiracy conviction, after prosecutors declined to retry the arson counts. One reason federal officials declined was because they did not want Asperger's Syndrome established as a viable legal defense.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31824
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 22, 2009
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 22, 2009
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Arson
Asperger's Syndrome
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Trials
Vandalism
Item ID
32021AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail