Utah man to plead guilty in Vegas ricin-related case

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah man accused of failing to report that deadly ricin was being made in his basement is working out a plea bargain with federal prosecutors. A federal judge postponed a Monday trial for Thomas Tholen, 54, after his defense attorney filed court papers saying a plea agreement was at hand. Tholen faces a felony count of knowing about a crime but failing to report it. His cousin, Roger Bergendorff of Las Vegas, is accused of cooking up the ricin in the basement of Tholen’s house in the Salt Lake City suburb of Riverton. A trial for the 57-year-old Bergendorff — charged with possession of a biological toxin and weapons violations — also has been postponed. His lawyer says there have been talks about a plea... [read full story]