Carlee Russell who made national news for attempting to fake her own kidnapping last year will not have a trial later this month. Instead, Russell will is set to attend a plea hearing on Thursday March 21.
Russell previously admitted that the kidnapping was all a lie. Her attorney released the statement on her behalf which said, “My client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf. There was no kidnapping on Thursday July 13, 2023. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help with this incident and this was a single act done by herself.” The statement continued: “My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone during the time she was missing. My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers that were searching for her, to Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well. We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake, Carlee again asks for your forgiveness.”
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According to ABC3340, State prosecutors are looking for Russell to do jail time and pay restitution and fines for the false abduction claim. As a result of this case, state lawmakers are also considering a bill that would make faking an abduction a “Class C” felony punishable by up to ten years in prison, the news outlet reported.
As we previously reported, judge Brad Bishop found Russell guilty based on the recommendation of state prosecutors. Bishop recommended one year in jail and $17,874 in restitution. He also recommended two fines of $831 each. After her previous hearing, Russell’s attorney Emory Anthony and Richard Jaffe are looking to appeal the decision but Anthony said following the hearing they are appealing the verdict because state prosecutors want Russell to serve jail time. “There’s no need of having a trial here, knowing their position,’’ Anthony said. “We have stipulated and appealed the case and it will star a new in the Bessemer Circuit Court.”
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Anthony continued to say that he does not agree with the decision to give someone jail time for two class A misdemeanors. “If you can find where someone was put in jail for that, bring the file to me and I’ll look at it,’’ he said. “Generally, they’re not put in jail.”
“Restitution, we don’t disagree with that, but to lock her up and put her in jail, we disagree,’’ he said.