A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted William Cottrell on charges of participating in the firebombing of SUVs last summer. The indictment alleges one count of conspiracy to commit arson, seven counts of arson and one count of use of a destructive device.
Counts 1 through 8 each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison (and a maximum of 20 years). The charge of using a destructive device (molotov cocktail) carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years, which must run concurrently. Therefore, if convicted of the nine counts in the indictment, Cottell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years in prison.
This morning, Cottrell is asking a judge to reconsider an order the he be detained or held without bond.
Cottrell is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on March 29.
