UPDATE – Dutschke Asks To Withdraw Guilty Plea

ABERDEEN, Miss. (AP) – A Mississippi man who pleaded guilty to making ricin and sending letters laced with the poison to President Barack Obama and other officials now wants to withdraw the plea.

James Everett Dutschke pleaded guilty in January to sending the tainted letters to Obama as well as Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and Mississippi judge Sadie Holland. He was to be sentenced Tuesday in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

At the sentencing, Dutschke told U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock that he was innocent and wanted a chance to prove it.

Aycock did not rule immediately. She told the defense and prosecution to submit briefs on the issue. She said she will likely hold a hearing before ruling on Dutschke’s request.

Dutschke argued FBI agents and federal prosecutors committed perjury.