Alabama Woman Carlee Russell Avoids Jail Time for Kidnapping Hoax

Carlee Russell pleaded guilty to faking her own kidnapping, attributing her actions to emotional issues and stress. She avoided jail time and was sentenced to one-year probation, community service, mental health counseling, and ordered to pay restitution to the city of Hoover. The 26-year-old nursing student's bizarre hoax had sparked nationwide panic, but the judge deemed it unnecessary to incarcerate her, citing that she does not pose a threat to the community.