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  • WEDNESDAY APRIL 20 2005 11:18 AM

See Billy. See Billy Vandalize H2s. See Billy Pay $3.5 Million.

Submitted by Stiles

Edited by legionnaire

William Cottrell, a 24 year old doctoral candidate in physics at the California Institute of Technology has been sentenced to eight years in prison and three and a half million dollars in restitution for his role in a 2003 string of arsons and vandalism targeting large SUVs at auto dealerships and private homes.

His two co-conspirators fled the country to avoid prosecution.

Cottrell’s attorneys asked for the five-year mandatory minimum sentence saying that their client has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism marked by impaired ability to understand social situations.

They said it affected his judgment and kept him from backing out when his two friends started lighting Molotov cocktails.

But Judge Klausner said high intelligence should work against a defendant, not in his favor. “What a talent to have wasted,” Klausner said. “There’s only one person to blame for that, and I’m sure Mr. Cottrell understands that it’s him.”

Attorneys estimated that Cottrell, who had faced a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, could spend six years in jail, including credit for time served.


Giving SUV drivers the finger would have been a better choice, Billy.

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Comments
Telltale

Telltale

USA
May 2004

APR 20, 2005 11:26 AM



But Judge Klausner said high intelligence should work against a defendant, not in his favor.



What a crock of bullshit, my little brother has Asperger's, as does a friend of mine. They're both smart bastards, but in social situations they're completely inept. I could easily see someone with Asperger's being pressured into a situation like this. I personally hate SUV's too, but I know it was a dumb thing to throw Moltov Cocktails at them. I'm sure William knew this too, but for the judge to comepletely ignore the effects of the disease was just ignorant.

Bailey

Bailey

SUICIDEGIRL

Massachusetts, USA

APR 20, 2005 11:31 AM

in one of henry rollins' books he talks about doing this. how everyone should do this. they should have blamed it on him.

what would henry do?

lil_tuffy

lil_tuffy

MODERATOR

San Francisco, CA

APR 20, 2005 11:33 AM

Bailey said:
what would henry do?



go lift some weights?

Lil_Tuffy

MistressMissy

mistressmissy

Grand Rapids, MI
March 2003

APR 20, 2005 11:36 AM

now now bailey, i know you were being sarcastic but you might give some people ideas. we dont want mr rollins sued.

troglodyte

troglodyte

Victoria, BC
May 2003

APR 20, 2005 11:50 AM

George Hayduke would be proud.

Marge

Marge

Davis, CA
July 2003

APR 20, 2005 11:56 AM

I wonder how many years they would give me for putting flyers on H2's that said "Did you have to DRIVE ACROSS A BATTLEFIELD to get your Jamba Juice?"

Because if it's a lot, I totally didn't do it.

mydogfarted

mydogfarted

Oakland, NJ
June 2003

APR 20, 2005 11:56 AM

A crime is a crime is a crime.

JJ_R0x0rz

JJ_R0x0rz

I'm lost
October 2003

APR 20, 2005 12:03 PM

Stiles said:


His two co-conspirators fled the country to avoid prosecution.



That sux, what a bunch of shitty friends he has...

User29A

User29A

Canada
September 2002

APR 20, 2005 12:09 PM

Don't like SUVS ? Don't buy one.

Plus, America is a nation well known for executing the mentally retarded, so I wouldn't expect leniency for something as mild as aspergers.

PlanNumberOne

PlanNumberOne

Norway
February 2005

APR 20, 2005 12:22 PM

eight years... crazy shiat. Everyone familiar with FUH2.com? Check it out. Random sample:


[Edited on Apr 20, 2005 12:23PM]

ether_medius

ether_medius

Toronto, ON
November 2004

APR 20, 2005 12:40 PM

I have an unclassifiable autism.. much like Asperger's.

I could totally understand how this Billy character *could* have been put up for it.

However, even autists often have a sense of consequence.

I bet he'll never see his "buddies" again.

What a crappy deal for this Billy guy.

thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

APR 20, 2005 01:08 PM

User29A said:
Plus, America is a nation well known for executing the mentally retarded, so I wouldn't expect leniency for something as mild as aspergers.



Actually they just put a stop to that not too long ago, leaving the people of the Texas Correctional System with nothing to do. wink

-TM

allergic

allergic

Saint Petersburg, FL
October 2004

APR 20, 2005 01:08 PM

Bailey said:
in one of henry rollins' books he talks about doing this. how everyone should do this. they should have blamed it on him.

what would henry do?



he'd probably do another shitty solo album and wait for the script for johnny mnemonic 2 to show up.

thrash242

thrash242

Pearland, TX
September 2004

APR 20, 2005 02:13 PM

Good, I'm glad.

Vandalism and crime is vandalism and crime. I'm tired of self-righteous anti-SUV pricks anyway.

I only wish they could find the others and throw them in jail too.

r00kers

r00kers

Nederland, CO
February 2003

APR 20, 2005 02:15 PM

I really sympathize with this guy's goals. Anyone talented enough to be a doctoral candidate in physics at caltech is probably going to be ok once he is out. He won't be allowed to work at LLNL or Sandia, but hey, that's ok by me.

Al should prison marry him, she likes math geeks. I have several friends from the school, its an interesting place.

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