Alabama woman accused of faking kidnapping to appear in court for plea hearing

The Alabama woman accused of falsely telling police she was abducted last summer after stopping her car to check on a toddler wandering near a highway pleaded guilty in court Thursday to two misdemeanors and gave her first public statement.Carlee Russell pleaded guilty to two counts of falsely reporting an incident.Russell’s two-day disappearance, and her story of being abducted, captivated the nation before police called her story a hoax.Russell disappeared on July 13 after calling 911 to report a toddler beside a stretch of Interstate 459 in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover. She returned home two days later and told police she had been abducted and forced into a vehicle.Police quickly cast doubt on Russell’s story. Her attorney issued a statement through police acknowledging there was no kidnapping and that she never saw a toddler. In the statement, Russell apologized to law enforcement and the volunteers who searched for her.During a previous municipal court hearing, a judge found her guilty so that she would have to go to Jefferson County Court. That judge recommended that Russell spend up to a year in jail and fines.The judge in Jefferson County Court on Thursday denied jail and said that she should be put on probation for one year, serve 100 hours of community service and pay restitution.Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis previously said he was frustrated that Russell was only being charged with two misdemeanors despite the panic and disruption she caused. He said the law did not allow for enhanced charges.Alabama legislators this year are considering a bill that would enhance penalties for falsely reporting crimes.Russell spoke in court while in tears about how she was sorry for the panic that she caused. Her family was also crying while she spoke.It is still unclear where she was for the 49 hours she was missing.The disappearanceThe Associated Press contributed to this report.

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