Ricin Suspect Held Without Bond

J. Everett Dutschke considered a flight risk

OXFORD, Miss.—A federal judge on Monday ordered a Mississippi man held without bond following his arrest on charges of mailing ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and other officials.

J. Everett Dutschke is "a flight risk and a danger to the community," U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander said Monday as the 41-year-old martial-arts instructor and former political candidate made his first appearance in court after his arrest over the weekend. She ordered him held until a hearing Thursday to review preliminary evidence.

Clad in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed at the waist, a somber-looking Mr. Dutschke spoke little during the 20-minute hearing in a second-floor courtroom, answering "I do" when the judge read the charges and asked him if he understood them.