Kenneth Olsen

Jurors convicted a computer engineer of making and possessing ricin, a deadly poison the government considers a biological weapon. The federal jury in Spokane deliberated for about two hours before finding Kenneth Olsen guilty of the two counts. Each count carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Olsen, 49, did not display any emotion as the verdict was read. During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Atty.

Despite pleas for mercy by the family of Kenneth Olsen, a federal judge sentenced the Spokane Valley man to more than 13 years in prison for possession of the deadly biological weapon ricin. U.S. District Judge Frem Nielsen rejected pleas from Olsen's family to set aside the conviction or give a light sentence, and instead imposed a midrange sentence of 13 years, nine months. The federal government considers ricin among the most toxic poisons known, with no legitimate purpose, Nielsen said.

Despite pleas for mercy by the family of Kenneth Olsen, a federal judge sentenced the Spokane Valley man to more than 13 years in prison for possession of the deadly biological weapon ricin. U.S. District Judge Frem Nielsen rejected pleas from Olsen's family to set aside the conviction or give a light sentence, and instead imposed a midrange sentence of 13 years, nine months. The federal government considers ricin among the most toxic poisons known, with no legitimate purpose, Nielsen said.

Jurors convicted a computer engineer of making and possessing ricin, a deadly poison the government considers a biological weapon. The federal jury in Spokane deliberated for about two hours before finding Kenneth Olsen guilty of the two counts. Each count carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Olsen, 49, did not display any emotion as the verdict was read. During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Atty.

On a clear, chilly December evening 30 years ago, Kenneth Olsen, head of the English department at Belmont High School, and his wife, Caroline, drove to Santa Monica's Lincoln Park tennis courts to meet another couple for a friendly doubles match. The courts on Wilshire Boulevard at Seventh Street were dark when the Olsens arrived about 8 p.m. Caroline went to the light meter to deposit a quarter. When she had trouble getting the meter to work, Kenneth went to help. Just as the lights came on, the Olsens noticed two men walking toward them.

Digital Plans New Focus: Robert B. Palmer, president of Digital Equipment Corp., said he will divide the troubled computer maker into business units and that he is confident the company will return to profitability. He declined, however, to predict when the company--the nation's second-largest computer firm--will make money again.

A man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of building a homemade biological weapon with a lethal toxin from the castor plant, the FBI said. FBI agent Norm Brown said there was no known connection between the man, Kenneth Olsen, and terrorists. Olsen, 47, was allegedly making ricin, a deadly extract of castor beans. Traces of ricin have been found by U.S. troops in Afghanistan at suspected Al Qaeda biological weapon sites, Brown said.

On a clear, chilly December evening 30 years ago, Kenneth Olsen, head of the English department at Belmont High School, and his wife, Caroline, drove to Santa Monica's Lincoln Park tennis courts to meet another couple for a friendly doubles match. The courts on Wilshire Boulevard at Seventh Street were dark when the Olsens arrived about 8 p.m. Caroline went to the light meter to deposit a quarter. When she had trouble getting the meter to work, Kenneth went to help. Just as the lights came on, the Olsens noticed two men walking toward them.

Digital Equipment Corp., citing a slow U.S. computer market, today reported a 44% drop in second quarter earnings, but the company said investments in new technology should help boost future sales. Digital, the world's second-largest computer company after IBM, said earnings totaled $155.4 million, or $1.25 per share, for the fiscal quarter that ended Dec. 30. That compared with earnings of $279.6 million, or $2.20 per share, for the year-ago period.

Digital Equipment Corp., a virtual bystander in the personal computer revolution, hopes to change that image next week when it unveils a line of powerful machines under an alliance with Intel Corp. Analysts do not expect Digital to quickly become a dominant player in the personal computer market but say the strategy will help the company build on its success designing networks for the small desktop machines.