Alabama abduction faker Carlee Russell avoids jail and is sentenced to one year of probation plus $18k fine

The Alabama woman who falsified a story about her kidnapping has been ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution and sentenced to probation following a guilty verdict last year.

Carlee Russell, 26, was charged with two misdemeanors for making false statements to police last July when she told authorities she'd been kidnapped after going missing for two days.

She eventually admitted, via her attorney, that she had made up the kidnapping. Her initially mysterious disappearance sparked national interest in the search that involved local and federal law enforcement.

Last October, Russell pleaded not guilty to false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident. A municipal judge ruled against her and recommended she pay $18,000 and spend a year in jail.

Alabama kidnapping hoaxer Carlee Russell, 26, was sentenced to a year of supervised probation on Thursday, as well as an $18,000 restitution fee for the resources pumped into the investigation of her kidnapping

Disturbing video taken the night that Carlee Russell faked her disappearance in Alabama appeared to show the moment she pulled over on a highway to help a child

Her legal team appealed the conviction, hoping to avoid jail time for their client - a mission they ultimately succeeded in.

On Thursday, ahead of a scheduled state trial, Russell pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 12 years of supervised probation, community service, and evidence of ongoing mental health counseling.

She also must pay the restitution to the city of Hoover.

In court on Thursday, Russell spoke publicly for the first time.

'I want to genuinely apologize for my actions, and the resulting negative impact inflicted onto others. I made a grave mistake while trying to fight through various emotional issues and stress.

'I’m extremely remorseful for the panic, fear and various range of negative emotions that were experienced across the nation.

'I want to to specifically acknowledge and take accountability for the pain and embarrassment that I inflicted upon my family, my church family, friends, neighbors, community, and all of those who were directly involved in search efforts for me,' she said.

Russell's attorney, Emory Anthony said following sentencing: 'We want to thank Judge Carpenter for doing what we think all judges should do with a Class A misdemeanor first offense.

'Carlee apologized to the communities, to Hoover, to the volunteers for her actions. I hope that we will accept that and move on and allow her to live her life.'

Alabama kidnapping hoaxer Carlee Russell was found guilty of faking her disappearance and wasting police time and resources

Russell was reported missing on July 13, after making a bizarre phone call to 911 in which she claimed she found a toddler on the side of a highway

In July of last year, Russell called the police to report a toddler on the side of Interstate 459 in Alabama.

Several days later, the nursing student returned home and told police that she'd been taken by a man and a woman while she was on the side of the highway checking on the toddler.

Investigators said they found no evidence of a child on the side of the road.

Later in July, Russell, through her attorney admitted in a statement that 'there was no kidnapping.'

During the investigation, officers discovered that the young woman had searched on her phone for information about Amber Alerts, the movie 'Taken,' and bus tickets hours before she went missing.

'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 in this incident. This was a single act done by herself,' the statement from her attorney read.

'We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward. Understanding that she made a mistake in this matter, Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers.'

When charges were announced in July, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Russell's crime was not 'victimless.'

'There are significant hours spent, resources expended as a result of this investigation and not only that, but the many men and women who are civilians who wore those yellow vests on a hot afternoon and evening looking for someone they thought was abducted, trying to be of assistance,' he said.

Simmons (left), Carlee's ex-boyfriend, initially revealed that she was 'fighting for her life for 48 hours' after vanishing from the Alabama interstate 459 highway

Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis said her actions caused 'panic and disruption' and pain for 'families whose loved ones really were victims of kidnappings.'

Following sentencing on Thursday, the AG's office said they are 'disappointed, but not surprised' that Russell didn't receive any jail time.

Katherine Robertson, chief counsel for the AG's office, said: 'Current law provides a weak penalty for false reporting and fails to account for situations, like Ms. Russell's, that result in a significant law enforcement response.'

'Fortunately, the Governor will soon receive our legislation to increase penalties for false reporting when an imminent threat is alleged and will expand the amount of restitution that can be sought. The next time law enforcement resources are needlessly wasted in this manner, the offender will be forever labeled a felon.'