Carlee Russell is set to plead guilty in her upcoming plea hearing.
Russell was convicted of faking her own kidnapping in Alabama last year. In July 2023, she said that while driving alone on a dark road she saw a toddler walking by himself. She went to say that when she got out of the car to help him, she was attacked from behind and taken. Russell would reappear two days later.
After further investigation, it was revealed that she lied about the kidnapping. Surveillance video of the highway that Russell was on didn’t show any evidence of a young boy on the side of the road. Her attorney, Emory Anthony, issued an apology 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 help in this incident, but this was a single act done by herself,” the statement read.
Russell was charged with falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement officers, which are two Class A misdemeanors. In October 2023, she pleaded not guilty however, Judge Brad Bishop ruled that was guilty and said that she had to pay over $17,000 in restitution, two fines of $831 and to spend one year in jail.
Russell’s legal team is working on an appeal because she could possibly go to jail although it looks like they are opting out of the trial.
Anthony said in a statement, “We stipulated and appealed the case and the reason behind it was that they’re trying to ask for jail time, which we totally disagree with.”
He continued, “So, in fairness, there’s no need of having a trial here, knowing their position. So we have stipulated and appealed the case and we’ll start anew in the Bessemer circuit court.”
Carlee Russell’s plea hearing is set for March 21 in Jefferson County. She not had given any reason as to why she lied about being kidnapped.