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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

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

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

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

The United States Department of Justice made a formal apology in a letter to 27-year-old Joshua Connole for arresting him after sport utility vehicles (SUV) were vandalized at dealerships in West Covina, Monrovia, Duarte, and Arcadia. He is now no longer a suspect and lives in Oregon.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29804
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
December 7, 2005
Pages
p. A3

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

6 records – page 1 of 1.