NEWS

Man who sent ricin letters sentenced in fondling case

Therese Apel
The Clarion-Ledger
Dutschke

A man who pleaded guilty to sending ricin to President Barack Obama and two other officials was sentenced to 20 years on fondling charges Tuesday.

James Everett Dutschke, 42, was a martial arts instructor in Tupelo at the time of the incidents. Officials said the fondling occurred between 2007 and 2013. The plea deal kept the victims from having to testify. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

Dutschke will serve 20 years in a federal penitentiary, consecutive to the 25 years he received for sending ricin-laced letters to President Barak Obama, Sen. Roger Wicker and Lee County Judge Sadie Holland last year. Dutschke also was senteced to an additional 25 years in the fondling case but that time was suspended.

"It was what we expected it to be. The judge followed the sentencing recommendation set by the state, and we were pleased by that," said Lori Basham, Dutschke's attorney.

Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson said the judge told Dutschke that once he is out, if he contacted the victims in any way or violated any of the terms of his probation, "I will not hesitate to send you back for the next 25 years."

The grandparent of one of the victims spoke to the court, Johnson said, adding that there could be other victims.

"What we know about the case and the victims we had, this occurred at a karate studio Mr. Dutschke operated and taught. There are multiple children of the age of our victims that were in contact with him," Johnson said. "I can tell you working cases like this in the past, when you have more than one victim, a lot of times it's years down the road that the victim comes forward when something triggers in their minds."

Johnson said his office met with the victims and their parents as recently as two to three weeks ago.

"I think there's some closure, the children have some sense that they're never going to have to face this predator again," Johnson said.

Dutschke has been known to speak on his own behalf in courtrooms and in the media, so some officials expressed surprise that he was quiet at Tuesday's sentencing.

"I did speak with him before the sentencing hearing. He had a plea agreement already worked out so there was no sense in making a statement or plea for mercy," Basham said.

In the ricin case, Dutschke attempted to frame Corinth Elvis impersonator Kevin Curtis by using language similar to things Curtis posted on the Internet in his letters to the officials.

Authorities first arrested Curtis and accused him of sending the letters. They contained statements that Curtis had often used on his Facebook page, including the line, "I am KC and I approve this message."

The letters also contained the phrase "Missing Pieces," the same title as an unpublished book Curtis wrote.

Charges against Curtis were dropped when the investigation shifted to Dutschke.

While they feuded for years, Curtis said he's still not sure why Dutschke targeted him or whether he's heard the last of him.

"When he was arrested the first time he put someone up to sending more letters and pretending it's me. I think those charges were dropped because of his plea bargain, that he recanted on and changed his plea, then changed his plea again the next day. Who knows if it's over or not," Curtis said.

Contact Therese Apel at (601) 961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com. Follow @TRex21 on Twitter.