Woman responsible for white powder scares released from jail

The woman who pleaded guilty to a series of white powder scares and bomb threats in Saskatoon is no longer behind bars.

Alexa Emerson, formerly known as Amanda Totchek, was granted her statutory release this week after serving two-thirds of her 115-day sentence.

Emerson received the sentence in May after pleading guilty to 81 charges related to a campaign of white powder package deliveries and bomb threats between November 2016 and April 2017.

Those charges included harassment, criminal mischief, uttering threats and violating probation conditions.

It followed a bizarre series of events in which Emerson was arrested and released on bail, at which point the threats continued. A video was also sent to police showing another woman confessing to the crimes, which turned out to be a paid actor who thought she was reading a book excerpt.

Crown prosecutor Jennifer Claxton-Viczko told 650 CKOM Emerson had initially applied for an early release, but was denied.

Emerson will also serve three years of probation, where she’ll be mandated to observe a curfew between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

She will also be barred from using any electronic device with an internet connection for the first eight months of her probation, and is required to meet with doctors and mental health professionals as directed by her probation officer.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated Canadian law would require Emerson to live in a half-way house during her statutory release period. In fact, the halfway house requirement is for federal sentences of three years or more. Emerson was sentenced to two years less a day.