Only in Los Angeles

Activists go to battle on 4WDs
From correspondents in Los Angeles
March 19, 2004

A CALIFORNIAN physics student faces more than 70 years in prison on charges he was part of an "eco-terrorist" group that launched a series of firebomb attacks on four-wheel drives.

A Los Angeles grand jury yesterday indicted graduate student William Cottrell, 23, for arson, conspiracy and use of a destructive device during a violent crime.

"If convicted of the nine counts in the indictment, Cottrell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 70 years in prison," a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office said. Mr Cottrell, who was arrested last week, was denied bail when he appeared in court in connection with the firebomb attacks on dealerships and private vehicles around Los Angeles in August.

The attackers hit the super-sized, gas-guzzling cars with Molotov cocktails, damaging about 125 vehicles.

They also daubed some with slogans such as "Polluter" and "SUV Terrorism". Police said the total damage bill was $US3.5 million ($4.7 million).






Magistrate Judge Carolyn Turchin ordered Mr Cottrell detained despite an offer by his father, a doctor, to put up his $US415,000 house and additional assets as bond.

The judge said she did not believe Mr Cottrell Sr - who once sent his son to a special camp for troubled teens - could control his son.

Authorities allege that about one month after the attacks Mr Cottrell used an alias to send emails to the Los Angeles Times in which he claimed he was among those responsible for the attacks and said he was part of a "cell" for radical environmental action group Earth Liberation Front.