Man pleads not guilty to federal charges in Vegas ricin case

LAS VEGAS " An unemployed graphic designer pleaded not guilty in federal court in Las Vegas to possession of a biological toxin and weapons charges.

Roger Bergendorff, 57, remained seated in a wheelchair and spoke only to answer brief questions Friday from U.S. District Magistrate Lawrence Leavitt, who set trial for June 17.

Bergendorff remains in federal custody after being arrested April 16. He had spent two months in a hospital with symptoms of ricin poisoning.

The charges carry a possible penalty of 30 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

Authorities say vials containing about 4 grams of "crude" powdered ricin were found Feb. 28 in Bergendorff's extended-stay motel room, several blocks off the Las Vegas Strip.

Ricin can be lethal in amounts the size of the head of a pin, but authorities say it didn't have anything to do with terrorism.

Investigators think Bergendorff made ricin for years while living in the San Diego, Reno and Salt Lake City areas before moving to Las Vegas.