DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly have announced that a Chicago man has been charged with posting threatening Facebook messages directed at State Rep. Deb Conroy of Villa Park.
Cort Chubko, 59, appeared in bond court where Judge Joshua Dieden set bond at $100,000 with 10 percent to apply. Chubko has been charged with one count of threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony and one count of intimidation, also a Class 3 felony.
It is alleged that on Feb. 4, and again on Feb. 12, Chubko commented on and replied to comments on Conroy’s Facebook page in a threatening manner. It is alleged that some of the comments left by Chubko included “heavy arms are being moved into and distributed across Dupage County. PEOPLE ARE PAST PISSED and READY TO FIGHT.”, “(expletive) is GOING TO get ugly in DuPage County.”, “This woman and all like her is the reason I own AND CARRY guns.”, “You know how I respond to fear Conroy? I move a little lever from SAFE to FIRE.” and “But know this Conroy and I couldnt be more serious… ALL HELL will come down on you, your staff and your office and your PRotection Detail isn’t going to be nearly enough to stop it.”
Through the course of their investigation authorities identified Chubko as the individual who allegedly made the posts. He was taken into custody March 11 from his residence without incident.
“For government to function properly, public officials must be allowed to perform their jobs without having to worry about retribution or fear for their personal safety,” Berlin said. “My office stands ready to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone who threatens a public official, their staff or their family. I thank the Illinois State Police for their outstanding work on this case.”
“Anyone contemplating this type of criminal conduct should be forewarned the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation takes threats to public officials of all kinds very seriously,” said ISP Director Brendan Kelly. “The outstanding, professional work of ISP special agents, ISP criminal intelligence analysts and DuPage County prosecutors moved this investigation forward to a swift apprehension of the defendant.”
Chubko’s next court appearance is scheduled April 4 for arraignment in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.
