Carlee Russell makes court appearance in fake kidnapping charges, paving the way for a trial
The Alabama woman who disappeared after telling police a story about a child walking along a highway was in court Wednesday, paving the way for a criminal trial on charges that she faked her own kidnapping.
Carlethia "Carlee" Russell, 26, faces two misdemeanor charges for falsely reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident, which could carry up to a year in jail and a hefty fine.
Russell entered not guilty pleas in municipal court Wednesday, according to her attorney Emory Anthony, but was found guilty by a judge who recommended up to a year in jail and a fine of over $17,000. Anthony said an appeal was already filed Wednesday afternoon and she remains out of jail.
In Alabama, Russell is able to be found guilty in municipal court without presenting a defense to a jury, but an appeal sends her case to circuit court where she has the right to a trial by jury, according to Amanda Priest, spokesperson for the Alabama Attorney General's office. The decision Wednesday won't influence a trial in circuit court, and if she's found guilty in circuit court, there will be a new sentencing, Priest said.
Anthony said that a hearing in the higher court is the best way to pursue justice for Russell. "This was the option that we had to take because we do not agree with her serving any time in jail," he told Paste BN.
Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said in a July news conference Russell's decisions created national panic and alarm that a possible kidnapper was on the run and using a toddler as bait.
"I know many are shocked and appalled that Ms. Russell is only being charged with two misdemeanors," Derzis said in late July. "I, too, share the same frustration."
Priest said the charges fit well with this case as the state's laws don't allow for harsher penalties.
It wasn't clear when a criminal trial might begin, but Court Director and Chief Magistrate Susan Fuqua told Paste BN earlier Wednesday that it couldn't be sooner than January.
What did Carlee Russell claim happened in July?
Russell initially went missing in Hoover on July 13 and reappeared at home 49 hours later.
She called police to report a toddler walking along Interstate 459 South in just a diaper, but police were unable to confirm Russell's report. She later called her brother's girlfriend, who reported she heard Russell scream before losing contact.
Hoover police said in a July 14 statement they weren't able to locate Russell or the child. They released video surveillance of Russell's red Mercedes-Benz pulling over on the highway with hazards on, but it doesn't show anyone driving up to Russell.
During a July 19 press conference, Derzis said Russell claimed to see a toddler wearing just a white T-shirt and a diaper, and a man came out of the woods telling her he was searching for the child.
The woman later told police she was placed in a semi-truck and overheard a man and woman talking while a baby was crying. Russell said she escaped but was recaptured and blindfolded, then taken to a home where she was fed crackers. She told police the couple made her take her clothes off and took pictures of her.
Nearly a week later, Anthony, her lawyer said she was never abducted and she admitted to lying about the missing child report.
Contributing Emily DeLetter, Francisco Guzman and Jeanine Santucci, Paste BN; The Associated Press