A Nitro man admitted Tuesday that he threatened to blow up the WorkForce West Virginia office when he was denied unemployment benefits in 2015.
William Joseph Estep, 43, was set to stand trial Tuesday, but he instead pleaded guilty before Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey to one felony count of threats to commit a terroristic act.
Estep faces up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000 when he's sentenced on Oct. 11.
Estep allegedly a WorkForce West Virginia employee over the phone he would blow up the office after he learned he would not receive any money from an unemployment claim he'd filed on Dec. 14, 2015.
"I made a bad accusation over the phone," Estep told the judge Tuesday.
Assistant Kanawha Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Drummond said the employee to whom Estep made the threat was prepared to testify about what happened. The trial, originally set for last month, was delayed until Drummond was able to reach the employee, who no longer works for WorkForce West Virginia.
Bailey also modified Estep's home confinement order to allow him to go to work.
Reach Lacie Pierson at lacie.pierson@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1723 or follow @laciepierson on Twitter.