An eco-terrorist convicted of arson and vandalism was sentenced to 8 years in "federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison", reports CNN.

An aspiring physicist was sentenced Monday to more than eight years in prison and ordered to pay $3.5 million for his role in a spree of arson and vandalism that targeted gas-guzzling Hummers and other sports utility vehicles.

Rejecting pleas for clemency from William Cottrell, a 24-year-old doctoral candidate in physics at the California Institute of Technology, U.S. District Judge Gary Klausner added more time to the sentence after finding that Cottrell was trying to sway consumers with his anti-SUV message.

The slogans Cottrell spray-painted onto vehicles included "Fat Lazy Americans," "No Respect for Earth" and "SUV Terrorism."

Cottrell's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.

Cottrell, who admitted only spray-painting and testified he did not know that two friends were bringing Molotov cocktails, promised he would never break the law again.

The two friends have fled the country to avoid prosecution, authorities said.

"I want nothing more than to be a physicist," Cottrell said. "I would do anything to earn any leniency the court could show in this matter."

Given that Cottrell was convicted on seven counts of arson and one count of conspiracy, I think he got off easy. Arson is a serious crime, which can get people killed. (Just ask any fireman how he feels about arson.)

Maybe spending 8 years with rapists, murderers, and common street thugs will give Cottrell the kind of enlightenment he really deserves.