Chicago Woman Found Guilty of False Report and Telephone Harassment in Ogle County

OREGON — An Ogle County jury found a 56-year-old Chicago woman guilty of making a false report and harassing emergency dispatchers following a May 2025 incident near Rochelle. Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said a jury on June 16 found Jodie Wiederkehr guilty of one count of disorderly conduct for making a false report and one count of harassment by telephone after a trial before Judge Anthony Peska. Jurors found her not guilty on a second disorderly conduct charge. Prosecutors said Wiederkehr called Ogle County dispatchers more than 20 times on May 25, 2025, regarding an event at 16989 E. Ritchie Road. During one call, she reported that someone had been shot at the location. A responding deputy investigated and found no evidence that a shooting had occurred. The disorderly conduct conviction is a Class 4 felony punishable by one to three years in prison, while harassment by telephone is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25 at 1:30 p.m.