This undated photo obtained from the Facebook page of Paul Kevin Curtis, shows, according to neighbors, Paul Kevin Curtis, 45. Curtis was arrested Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at his home in Corinth, near the Tennessee state line. He is accused of mailing letters with suspected ricin to to national leaders. (AP)
The Mississippi man suspected of mailing letters laced with ricin to President Barack Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker has been charged with threatening the president and others.
Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, appeared in federal court Thursday wearing shackles and a Johnny Cash T-shirt, the Associated Press reported. His lawyer, Christi R. McCoy, said Curtis "maintains 100 percent that he did not do this."
Curtis faces two charges on accusations of threatening President Barack Obama and others, after letters mailed to Obama, Wicker (R-Miss.) and a Mississippi judge tested positive for suspected ricin.
He did not enter a plea to the charges; a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing are scheduled for Friday afternoon. There was no decision on whether to have a hearing to determine if Curtis is mentally competent to stand trial.
If convicted, he could face a maximum of 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
This post has been updated.
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