A Mississippi martial arts instructor suspected of mailing letters containing the deadly poison ricin to President Barack Obama and other US officials appeared in federal court on Monday for a brief hearing.
James Everett Dutschke, 41, was arrested on Saturday in Tupelo, Mississippi, after authorities searched his home and former business. He is charged with developing and possessing ricin and attempting to use the poison as a weapon.
Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Dutschke responded briefly to a judge’s questions during the eight-minute hearing in Oxford, Mississippi.
The judge, S. Allan Alexander, later granted an oral motion to keep an affidavit detailing the charges against Dutschke under seal until a detention hearing set for Thursday morning.
Dutschke has denied having any involvement with the ricin letters and said he cooperated with federal officials during their searches.
He faces a possible life sentence if convicted.