During a court appearance on Thursday, an Alabama woman who had lied about her kidnapping was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution, according to ABC News.
Carlee Russell faced charges for two misdemeanors after she confessed to making false statements to the police in July. Initially, she claimed to have been kidnapped after being missing for two days. However, she later admitted, through her attorney, that the kidnapping story was fabricated. The Hoover Police Department stated that her disappearance had triggered a nationwide search, with local and federal law enforcement agencies involved.
In October, Russell entered a plea of not guilty to charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident. The municipal judge, however, found her guilty and proposed a sentence of one year in jail, along with restitution of almost $18,000.
Russell’s legal team deemed the restitution to be just, however, they decided to appeal the conviction in order to evade imprisonment. Initially, a state trial was scheduled to commence this week, but it was subsequently removed from the docket. Consequently, a plea hearing was arranged for Thursday, replacing the trial.
Russell entered a guilty plea during the hearing on Thursday. As a result, she received a sentence of 12 months of supervised probation. In addition, she was ordered to complete community service and continue with mental health counseling. Furthermore, Russell is required to pay $17,974.88 in restitution to the city of Hoover.
On July 12th, Russell dialed 911 to alert authorities about a toddler on Interstate 459 in Alabama, just a day before her own disappearance. Upon her return home on July 15th, Russell informed the police that she had been abducted by a man and a woman while she was stopping to check on the reported toddler on the highway. However, the investigators failed to find any proof of a child walking along the roadside.
During the investigation into her claim of being kidnapped, the police discovered that the 25-year-old had searched for Amber Alerts, bus tickets, and the movie “Taken” on her phone just hours before she disappeared. This information was revealed by Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis.
Anthony provided a statement to the police in July, in which Russell admitted that there had been no kidnapping.
According to a statement provided, my client denies seeing a baby on the side of the road and leaving the Hoover area when she was reported missing. The statement also emphasizes that my client acted alone and did not have any assistance in this incident.
“We humbly request your prayers for Carlee as she confronts her challenges and strives to make progress. Acknowledging her mistake in this situation, Carlee once again seeks your forgiveness and prayers,” the statement expressed.
Derzis, in July, stated that Russell’s actions caused panic and disruption, further reopening wounds for families whose loved ones were actual victims of kidnappings.
At the time, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall emphasized that this was not a crime without victims.
Marshall emphasized the considerable time and effort invested and resources utilized in the investigation. He also acknowledged the dedication and commitment of the civilians who volunteered wearing yellow vests under the scorching sun to assist in the search for the presumed abducted individual.
Derzis expressed her frustration with the fact that Russell could only face misdemeanor charges. She called on state legislators to amend the law, adding an enhancement that would apply when someone falsely reports a kidnapping or another violent crime.
Alabama state legislators are currently considering a bill that aims to address the issue of false reports made to law enforcement regarding imminent danger. If passed, this bill would classify such false reports as a felony offense, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Additionally, individuals convicted of this crime would be required to pay restitution and serve their entire prison sentence without any reductions or early releases. At present, the bill is awaiting a vote from both the state House and Senate.
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office expressed their disappointment but lack of surprise at Russell’s sentencing on Thursday, as she did not receive the requested jail time.
According to Katherine Robertson, chief counsel for the Alabama attorney general, the existing law lacks a sufficient penalty for false reporting and does not address cases like Ms. Russell’s that lead to substantial law enforcement involvement. Robertson expressed relief that the Governor will soon be presented with their proposed legislation, which aims to enhance the penalties for false reporting in cases involving imminent threats and broaden the scope of restitution that can be pursued. She emphasized that individuals who needlessly squander law enforcement resources in this manner will be permanently branded as felons.
