reports that Billy was being mistreated by prison guards who have labeled him a "terrorist". According to the article, he is not permitted to study physics or Mandarin Chinese, is not permitted to teach the other prisoners calculus, and had had his books and papers removed without being given a reason. A letter in Cottrell's defense, signed by Stephen Hawking and other prominent scientists, was distributed to prison authorities and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals at Cottrell's October 18, 2006 hearing. He was then transferred into another federal prison with less violent prisoners. Cottrell was then able to study subjects that he was denied at the last prison and no longer had a roommate. Documentary film A documentary film on Cottrell, titled Standard Deviation, was written and directed by David Randag and Chris Brannan in 2008. In 2009, it won the Emmy for best student documentary at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation's 30th College Television Awards. Decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit On 8 September 2009, Cottrell's convictions and sentences for arson were overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the conspiracy conviction and sentence were affirmed. According to the Times, the omission of Cottrell's diagnosis of Asperger syndrome during his 2004 trial played a key role in the decision. Cottrell was released on August 16, 2011. After his release from prison he completed his PhD in theoretical and mathematical physics at the University of Wisconsin Madison and postdoctorate research at University of Amsterdam and Stanford University. References External links 1980 births American people convicted of arson American prisoners and detainees Earth Liberation Front Living people People from Concord, North Carolina People with Asperger syndrome Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit cases University of Chicago alumni