An Alabama woman who faked her own kidnapping is appealing a judge’s sentence of one year in jail and an $18,000 fine.
Carlee Russell, 26, was found guilty of 2 misdemeanor counts of false reporting on Wednesday, Oct. 11. A judge sentenced her to a year in jail (six months on each charge) followed by probation and an $18,000 fine.
However, the former nursing student doesn’t want to serve a single day in jail. Her attorney is appealing her sentence to the circuit court, according to reports.
Russell vanished on July 13 after she called 911 to report seeing a toddler walking alone on the side of a highway. Her 911 call launched one of the largest manhunt’s in Alabama history.
A nationwide Amber Alert was issued, and Russell’s disappearance made headlines worldwide. Hundreds of citizens joined police in the search for Russell and the toddler.
But Russell showed up at her parents’ house 48 hours later. She claimed she was kidnapped from the side of the road by a man who kept her in an 18-wheeler and then a house.
She also claimed a woman took nude photos of her in the house. The Hoover Police Department was heavily criticized for showing Russell preferential treatment.
After dismissing her story as a fabricated hoax, authorities hit her with 2 misdemeanor charges of false reporting to 911 and law enforcement officers.
