Man Charged After Ricin Found in Hastings Apartment Complex

Man charged after ricin found in Hastings apartment complex

A man is facing decades behind bars after ricin was found in a Hastings apartment complex last week forcing residents out of their homes for days, prosecutors announced Friday.

Arrest made in ricin exposure case in Hastings

HASTING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Hastings man faces potential prison time for possessing a deadly poison that caused the evacuation of an apartment complex in the city last week. Joseph Jay Sheppard in Hastings District Court Friday on a charge of Harmful Devices-Unlawful Possession or Use Causing Property Damage, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $15,000.00. His bond was set at $1,000,000 cash. A pre-exa…

Tyden Lofts cleared for re-entry after ricin exposure last month

The Barry County Prosecutor's Office says Joseph Sheppard knowingly released ricin inside Tyden Loft apartments in Hastings earlier this month. Now he's facing a felony charge that could put him in prison for 20 years.