Trials in ricin case postponed
SALT LAKE CITY — 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 on 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 a Salt Lake City suburb.
A trial for the 57-year-old Bergendorff also has been postponed. His lawyer says there have been talks about a plea bargain.