Carlee Russell, from Alabama, appeared in court on Thursday, where she was ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution. Russell faced charges for two misdemeanors related to making false statements to the police in July.
Initially, Russell claimed she had been kidnapped after being missing for two days, triggering a widespread search involving local and federal authorities. However, she later admitted, through her attorney, that the kidnapping story was fabricated, according to the Hoover Police Department. As a result, Russell was sentenced to probation for her actions.
In October, Russell pleaded not guilty to false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. Despite her plea, a municipal judge later found her guilty. The judge suggested a sentence of one year in jail and nearly $18,000 in restitution.
Russell’s legal team deemed the restitution amount reasonable but contested the conviction to prevent jail time. Initially, a state trial was supposed to start this week, but it was removed from the schedule. Instead, a plea hearing was arranged for Thursday.
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During Thursday’s hearing, Russell admitted guilt to the charges. Consequently, she received a sentence of 12 months of supervised probation and community service.
She was also ordered to continue mental health counseling. Additionally, she was directed to pay $17,974.88 in restitution to the city of Hoover.
Russell dialed 911 on July 12 to report a toddler on Interstate 459 in Alabama, just before she went missing, as per police statements. Upon her return home on July 15, she informed the police that a man and a woman had abducted her.
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This occurred while checking on the toddler she reported. However, police found no evidence of a child walking along the highway.
During the investigation into her alleged kidnapping, authorities discovered that the 25-year-old had searched for Amber Alerts, bus tickets, and the movie “Taken” on her phone.
These searches occurred just hours before she disappeared, as reported by Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis. In a statement given to the police by Anthony in July, Russell admitted that “there was no kidnapping.”
According to the statement, Russell acknowledged that she didn’t see a baby on the side of the road when she was reported missing and that she didn’t leave the Hoover area. She also stated that she acted alone in this incident.
The statement requested prayers for Russell as she deals with her issues and tries to move forward. It emphasized her acknowledgment of her mistake and asked for forgiveness and prayers.
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When charges were announced in July, Derzis stated that Russell’s actions had caused “panic and disruption,” reopening wounds for families who had experienced real kidnappings. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that it was not a “victimless crime.”
Marshall highlighted the significant time and resources invested in the investigation. This includes the efforts of civilians who volunteered their time to search for someone they believed was abducted. He noted the dedication of these individuals, who braved hot weather wearing yellow vests in their efforts to assist law enforcement.
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