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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

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

Caltech graduate Tyler Johnson, who had been identified as a suspect in the firebombing and vandalism of more than 130 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) at automobile dealerships in the San Gabriel Valley in 2003, has died in an avalanche while hiking in the Corsian mountains in France on December 26, 2009. Johnson has been a fugitive for the past six years. Surveillance cameras captured Johnson and William ("Billy") Cottrell spray painting environmental slogans on the cars at Rusnak Mercedes Benz in Arcadia in 2003. Cottrell was convicted.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31892
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 6, 2010
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 6, 2010
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Arson
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Johnson, Tyler
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Vandalism
Item ID
32089AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Attorney Michael Mayock, representing convicted client Billy Cottrell, seeks a verdict reversal for the 2003 fire-bombing of sport utility vehicles (SUV) at a San Gabriel Valley automobile dealership. He says the jury did not know about Cottrell's Asperger's Syndrome, a neurological disorder. Cottrell's prison situation is 'nightmarish.'

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30243
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 19, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 19, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Prison
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
United States Court of Appeals
Vandalism
Item ID
30430AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Billy Cottrell, a Cal Tech graduate student who took part in a fire bombing spree that caused millions of dollars in damage to SUV dealerships in the San Gabriel Valley, was sentenced to more than 8 years in prison. See inset for chronology of ecoterror events.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29501
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 19, 2005
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 19, 2005
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Sentences
Trials
Item ID
29685AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Authorities say an E-mail unlocked a door into a string of vandalism and arson cases at SUV dealerships and led to the arrest of William Jensen Cottrell.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27846
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 14, 2004
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 14, 2004
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Cottrell, William Jensen
Vandalism
Item ID
28043AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

William Cottrell is charged in firebombing and vandalizing of sport utility vehicles and is denied bail.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27847
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 18, 2004
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 18, 2004
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Cottrell, William Jensen
Vandalism
Item ID
28044AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

A DNA match becomes the first physical evidence connecting Billy Cottrell with the ecoterrorist attacks on SUV dealerships last year.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29035
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
August 24, 2004
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
August 24, 2004
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Automobile Dealerships
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Trials
Item ID
29222AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Cal Tech student William Jensen Cottrell, allegedly connected with an ecoterrorist group in connection with vandalism at Rusnak Mercedes-Benz and other car dealershships in the San Gabriel Valley, was arrested by the FBI.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27839
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 10, 2004
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 10, 2004
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Ecoterrorists
Hummers
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Item ID
28036AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

A profile of William Jensen Cottrell and his attorney Stephen Alexander. Cottrell is the alleged ecoterrorist who spray-painted and torched 133 SUVs in the San Gabriel Valley.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27840
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 11, 2004
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 11, 2004
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Cottrell, William Jensen
Vandalism
Alexander, Stephen
Item ID
28037AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

William Jensen Cottrell, ecoterrorist, accused of involvement in the San Gabriel Valley vandalism of SUVs and Hummers, was questioned by the FBI in January.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27842
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 12, 2004
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 12, 2004
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Cottrell, William Jensen
Vandalism
Item ID
28039AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

A federal jury found Cottrell guilty of conspiracy and seven counts of arson.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29308
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 20, 2004
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 20, 2004
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Cottrell, William Jensen (aka Cottrell, Billy)
Crime and Criminals
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Trials
Item ID
29492AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

U. S. District Court will unseal the SUV vandalism warrant for the arrest of Josh Connole, a peace activist who was never charged in connection with ecoterrorism in the San Gabriel Valley.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27900
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 23, 2004
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 23, 2004
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Hummers
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Ecoterrorists
Vandalism
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Conolle, Josh
Cottrell, William
Item ID
28096AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Josh Connole, held in SUV vandalism case, filed a complaint against West Covina and the U. S. Justice Department.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper26503
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 8, 2003 p. A3
October 9, 2003 p. A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 8, 2003 p. A3
October 9, 2003 p. A4
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Vandalism
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberatiion Front (ELF)
Connole, Josh
Item ID
26704AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

One year ago, alleged ecoterrorists Connole and Cottrell attacked Rusnak Mercedes Benz in Arcadia and other SUV dealerships in the San Gabriel Valley. The article includes a recap of events since the attack.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29038
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
August 22, 2004
Pages
p. A8
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
August 22, 2004
Pages
p. A8
Subjects
Ecoterrorism and ecoterrorists
Rusnak, Mercedes Benz
Connole, Josh
Cottrell, Bill
Earth Liberation Front
SUV dealerships
Item ID
29225AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

ELF vows increased activist attacks. The radical ecoterrorists group vandalized Hummers and SUVs in West Covina, Duarte, Arcadia and Monrovia.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper26237
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
August 31, 2003
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
August 31, 2003
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Vandalism
RUSNAK - Mercedes Benz
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Item ID
26438AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

CalTech and Pasadena City College have been contacted by the FBI in the investigation on the recent ecoterrorist attacks by ELF on auto dealerships.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper26326
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 23, 2003
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 23, 2003
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Hummers
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Vandalism
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
RUZNAK Mercedes-Benz
CalTech
Pasadena City College
Item ID
26526AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

New legislation by Chris Chocola would define ecoterrorism and would mandate federal prison time. This bill targets the San Gabriel Valley SUV dealership vandals.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper26892
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 20, 2003
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 20, 2003
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Ecoterrorists
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Vandalism
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Hummers
Item ID
27092AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

A judge wants to know why information used to justify the arrest of Josh Connole in connection with ecoterrorism in Arcadia, Duarte and West Covina remains sealed.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper27379
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 15, 2004
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 15, 2004
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Connole, Josh
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Ecoterrorists
Hummers
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Item ID
27578AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

20 records – page 1 of 1.