A Washington state man on probation for preparing ricin was jailed again this week after authorities learned that he had ordered the main ingredient for the toxin over the Internet, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported (see GSN, Jan. 10).

Robert Alberg, 38, could face five years in prison if found to have violated his probation. He is to remain in custody until a July 15 hearing.

Defense attorney David Bukey said Alberg has obtained only one packet of castor beans, and had not opened it.

Alberg, who suffers from depression and a form of autism, apparently meant only to hurt himself, according to the Post-Intelligencer. However, that still would have required using the beans to produce ricin, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Lang.

Alberg was arrested in April 2004 after authorities learned he had obtained nearly 5 pounds of castor beans and was making ricin. He pleaded guilty in late 2004 to possession of a biological toxin (Tracy Johnson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 30).