Addison woman admits making bomb threat to avoid jury duty

An Addison woman admitted Thursday threatening to blow up the DuPage County courthouse after being called for jury duty.

Toby D. Owhoka, 48, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of public service after she pleaded guilty to attempted disorderly conduct.

In a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to amend the original felony Owhoka faced to a misdemeanor.

Her attorney, Tony Coco, a senior DuPage County assistant public defender, said Owhoka did not have a prior criminal history. She also spent 36 days in jail after being unable to post bail.

Authorities said Owhoka threatened to blow up the courthouse March 4 during a telephone call with a jury commission member regarding her two failed appearances for jury summonses.

"She was extremely upset," prosecutor Ann Celine O'Hallaren said. "She said she was not going to come to jury duty and that she would not be a fair juror. She said she hated DuPage and that she hated the system and then she threatened to blow up the building."

Deputies searched the Wheaton facility, but no explosives were found.

Owhoka was arrested at her home at 904 College Blvd. in Addison. Authorities said she confessed during police questioning.

Coco said Owhoka never intended to follow through with the threat.

DuPage Circuit Judge Kathryn Creswell presided over the plea deal. Owhoka faced up to one year in jail for the amended misdemeanor charge. She also must seek counseling if probation officials deem it appropriate after an evaluation.