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Guilty plea from former UW-Oshkosh student in ricin case

By: Associated Press//March 12, 2015//

Guilty plea from former UW-Oshkosh student in ricin case

By: Associated Press//March 12, 2015//

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Kyle Allen Smith (AP Photo/Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department)
Kyle Allen Smith (AP Photo/Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student has pleaded guilty to possession of ricin.

Kyle Allen Smith, 21, of Oshkosh, admitted growing castor beans and extracting ricin, a toxin, in his plea Thursday, the Department of Justice announced. A count of developing a toxin for use as a weapon was dropped in a plea agreement.

Smith faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. It wasn’t immediately clear if a sentencing date had been set.

Smith was arrested and charged in November after two professors became concerned over what they said were his questions about extracting ricin from castor beans.

Smith’s attorney, William Kerner, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

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