Riverton, UTAH

Remember that Ricin scare in Las Vegas?

October 23, 2008 - U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell sentenced former East High School art teacher Thomas Tholen, 54, to 24 months probation for repeatedly lying to investigators. For a week he denied knowing his cousin was making the deadly toxin ricin at a time when the FBI and Las Vegas police were desperately searching for the source of the ricin.

Tholen knew his cousin Roger Von Bergendorff possessed ricin and had a cookbook on how to make the substance. He kicked his cousin out of the house because he feared for his family's safety but later told police and FBI agents he knew nothing about Bergendorff's involvement with the toxin.

Bergendorff moved to a house across the street from Tholen, then to Las Vegas where he was found in critical condition in a motel room.

Tholen pleaded guilty in August to knowing a biological agent had been illegally produced and lying to conceal the offense. He had been free pending resolution of his case.
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TT - The CNN story makes no mention of Tholen's occupation.