Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who made national headlines last year after faking her own kidnapping, appeared in court on Thursday to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of making a false police report. The 26-year-old expressed remorse for causing panic and fear across the nation, as well as the pain and embarrassment she inflicted on her family, friends, and community. Russell was sentenced to one year of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $17,974.88 in restitution to the city of Hoover, Alabama. She also acknowledged that she is receiving mental health counseling and was instructed by the judge to continue this as a condition of her probation.

Russell's disappearance in July 2023 sparked a massive search effort, with authorities and volunteers spending nearly 49 hours looking for her. She claimed to have been abducted, held hostage, and managed to escape her captors. However, further investigation revealed that she had fabricated the entire story. Russell's internet searches, including inquiries about Amber Alerts and how to steal money without getting caught, raised suspicions about the authenticity of her claims.

During her sentencing, Russell apologized to the Hoover Police Department and all law enforcement agencies involved in the search for her. However, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis expressed disappointment with the lack of jail time in her sentence, stating that the restitution amount should have been higher to cover the resources spent on the search efforts.

Despite avoiding jail time, Russell will have to complete her probation, community service, and restitution payments, while also continuing mental health counseling. Her attorney expressed hope that the community would accept her apology and allow her to move forward with her life. The judge scheduled a review hearing in October to monitor her progress in fulfilling the court's requirements.