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.
Cottrells attorneys asked for the five-year mandatory minimum sentence saying that their client has Aspergers 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. Theres only one person to blame for that, and Im sure Mr. Cottrell understands that its 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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NimChimpsky
Oakland, CA
March 2004
APR 22, 2005 02:34 AM
PaulNikon
Palm Bay, FL
February 2003
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Chicago, IL
September 2002
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Titusville, FL
OLD SKOOL
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Brooklyn, NY
November 2003
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I'm lost
July 2004
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Austin, TX
April 2003
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Oakland, CA
April 2003
APR 24, 2005 06:45 PM
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