Hatboro man owns up to sending ricin-laced card to rival
A Montgomery County man has pleaded guilty to sending a romantic rival a greeting card laced with the deadly poison ricin — and he’s now accused of plotting new crimes while behind bars.Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Helman of Hatboro pleaded guilty Monday in Bucks County Court to attempted murder, attempted aggravated assault, risking a catastrophe and other crimes. He was charged in March with delivering a ricin-laced greeting card to the home of his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend.
Prosecutors now allege that he tried to get a fellow Bucks County prison inmate to retaliate against those he blamed for his incarceration, including co-workers, a detective and a prosecutor. He is now charged with criminal solicitation to commit murder, arson, kidnapping and assault.
A call to his public defender wasn’t immediately returned Monday.
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