The Alabama woman who falsified a story about her kidnapping has been ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution and sentenced to probation after a guilty verdict last year.
Carlee Russell, 26, was charged with two felonies for making false statements to police last July when she told authorities she had been kidnapped after being missing for two days.
Through her lawyer, she eventually admitted that she had fabricated the kidnapping. Her initially mysterious disappearance sparked national interest in the search involving local and federal law enforcement.
Last October, Russell pleaded not guilty to false reports to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident. A municipal judge ruled against her and recommended she pay $18,000 and spend a year in jail.
Carlee Russell, 26, a kidnapping scammer from Alabama, was sentenced Thursday to one year of supervised probation as well as $18,000 in restitution for resources invested in the investigation into her kidnapping.
A disturbing video taken the night Carlee Russell faked her disappearance in Alabama appeared to show the moment she stopped on the highway to help a child
Her legal team appealed the conviction, hoping to avoid jail time for their client – a mission in which they ultimately succeeded.
On Thursday, ahead of a scheduled state trial, Russell pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 12 years of supervised probation, community service and evidence of continued mental health care.
She must also pay the restitution to the city of Hoover.
On Thursday, Russell spoke publicly in court for the first time.
“I would like to sincerely apologize for my actions and the resulting negative impact on others. I made a serious mistake when I tried to overcome various emotional problems and stress.
“I deeply regret the panic, fear and various negative emotions experienced across the country.
“I want to specifically acknowledge and take ownership of the pain and shame I have caused my family, my church family, friends, neighbors, the community and everyone directly involved in the search for me,” she said.
Russell’s attorney Emory Anthony said after the sentencing, “We want to thank Judge Carpenter for doing what we believe all judges should do in a first class A misdemeanor case.”
“Carlee apologized to the communities, to Hoover and to the volunteers for her actions. I hope we will accept that and move on and let her live her life.”
Alabama kidnapping hoaxer Carlee Russell was found guilty of faking her disappearance and wasting police time and resources
Russell was reported missing on July 13 after she made a bizarre call to 911 claiming she had found a toddler on the side of a highway.
Last July, Russell called police to report a toddler on the side of Interstate 459 in Alabama.
Several days later, the nursing student returned home and told police she was taken by a man and a woman while checking on the toddler along the highway.
Investigators said they found no evidence that a child was lying on the side of the road.
Later in July, Russell admitted in a statement through her attorney that “there was no kidnapping.”
During the investigation, officers discovered that the young woman had searched her phone hours before she went missing for information about Amber Alerts, the movie “Taken” and bus tickets.
‘My client didn’t see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as missing. My client received no help during this incident. This was a single act done by herself,” her lawyer’s statement said.
“We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she discusses her issues and tries to move forward. Carlee understands that she made a mistake in this matter and once again asks for your forgiveness and prayers.”
When charges were announced in July, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Russell’s crime was not “victimless.”
“Significant hours and resources were spent as a result of this investigation and not only that, but the many men and women who are civilians who wore yellow vests on a hot afternoon and evening searching for someone they believed had been kidnapped , in an effort to be helpful,” he said.
Simmons (left), Carlee’s ex-boyfriend, initially revealed she “fought for her life for 48 hours” after disappearing from Highway 459 in Alabama
Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis said her actions caused “panic and disruption” and pain for “families whose loved ones were actually victims of kidnappings.”
After the sentencing on Thursday, the AG’s office said they are “disappointed, but not surprised” that Russell did not receive any prison time.
Katherine Robertson, lead attorney for the AG’s office, said, “Current law provides a weak penalty for false reporting and does not take into account situations, like Ms. Russell’s, that result in a significant law enforcement response.”
“Fortunately, the Governor will soon receive our legislation to increase penalties for false reporting when there is an imminent threat and will expand the amount of restitution that can be sought. The next time law enforcement resources are unnecessarily wasted in this manner, the offender will be forever branded a criminal.”