The Region - News from Feb. 21, 1985

Federal prosecutors have dropped some of the charges against a Soviet couple accused of espionage. Assistant U.S. Atty. Bruce Merritt said that aiding and abetting charges against Nikolai and Svetlana Ogorodnikov were dropped because former FBI agent Richard Miller, also facing espionage charges, could not be counted upon to stick to earlier admissions in pretrial proceedings and testify that he actually gave the couple government documents. Miller, the only FBI agent ever charged with espionage, faces four counts of espionage and four counts of bribery. Each of the Ogorodnikovs faces a single espionage charge. Nikolai Ogorodnikov is charged with one count of bribery, and his wife with four counts. Trial for the couple is scheduled to begin March 19, and Miller’s trial will follow.