LOS ANGELES — Jury selection is scheduled to start today in the trial of a Caltech grad student accused of firebombing sport utility vehicles in the San Gabriel Valley, causing millions of dollars in damage.
William Jensen Cottrell, 24, allegedly took part in an Aug. 22, 2003 arson and graffiti spree that damaged vehicles at dealerships in West Covina, Duarte and Arcadia, as well as at private homes in the area. A parts warehouse at Clippinger Hummer was also burned.
Cottrell and two alleged co-conspirators who prosecutors say have fled the country allegedly spray-painted slogans such as "POLLUTER," "SUVTERRORISM," and "ELF," the last being the acronym for the radical Earth Liberation Front.
Cottrell is charged with conspiring to commit arson and using a destructive device -- in this case, Molotov cocktails -- during a crime of violence. If convicted of all the charges, he faces a minimum of 35 years in prison.
His defense is expected to argue that the physics student was influenced by the two alleged co-conspirators, Tyler Johnson and Michie Oe.
The defense also contends Cottrell suffers from Asperger's syndrome -- a form of high-functioning autism -- and thus was unable to understand his companions' intentions.
Prosecutors have filed a motion to bar defense testimony about Asperger's, contending the diagnosis does not have any bearing on whether he knowingly committed arson.
"Even if defendant has some impaired social functioning, it would have no bearing on the issue of intent to commit the crimes charged in this case," prosecutors wrote.
For its part, the defense wants the government barred from using the word "terrorist" during the trial.
Cottrell, who has been jailed since his arrest in March, gained the attention of the FBI after he allegedly e-mailed a Los Angeles Times reporter.
The e-mail's sender stated that a Pomona peace activist briefly held in connection with the case was not involved. The sender also bragged about an equation spray-painted on one of the SUVs.
In a statement last month, Cottrell maintained his innocence and contended he has no ties to the ELF, though he says he is "environmentally conscientious" and a supporter of stricter fuel efficiency standards.
He said he wants nothing more than "to return to my relatively quiet life of studying physics and teaching classes at Caltech, with the occasional cross country race and climbing trip here and there."
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