New arrest in ricin-letter case

BRANDON, Miss. - A former martial arts instructor made ricin and put the poison in letters to President Obama and others, the FBI alleged Saturday, days after dropping similar charges against an Elvis impersonator who insisted he had been framed.

The arrest of 41-year-old James Everett Dutschke early Saturday capped a week in which investigators initially zeroed in on a rival of Dutschke's, then decided they had the wrong man. The hunt for a suspect revealed tie after small-town tie between the two men and the 80-year-old county judge who, with Obama and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, was among the targets of the letters.

Dutschke had been under surveillance, and his house, business, and vehicles in Tupelo, Miss., were searched earlier in the week often by crews in hazardous-materials suits.

Dutschke was charged with "knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, transferring, acquiring, retaining and possessing a biological agent, toxin and delivery system, for use as a weapon, to wit: ricin." U.S. Attorney Felicia Adams and Daniel McMullen, the FBI agent in charge in Mississippi, made the announcement Saturday.

Dutschke's attorney, Lori Nail Basham, said she had no comment. Earlier this week she said that Dutschke was cooperating fully with investigators and that he insisted he had nothing to do with the letters. He was arrested about 12:50 a.m. at his house in Tupelo and is expected in court Monday. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The letters, which tests showed were tainted with ricin, were sent April 8 to Obama, Wicker, and Mississippi Judge Sadie Holland.

Wicker spokesman Ryan Taylor said the senator could not comment.

The FBI first focused on Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, the Elvis impersonator. He was arrested April 17 at his Corinth, Miss., home, but the charges were dropped six days later and Curtis was released from jail.