Carlee Russell to Appeal Guilty Verdict in Kidnapping Hoax Case

Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman accused of falsely reporting a kidnapping after stopping to check on a toddler, plans to appeal her guilty verdict in municipal court to avoid a yearlong jail sentence. Russell's attorneys agreed to "stipulate and appeal," moving the case to circuit court. Prosecutors are seeking jail time, but Russell's defense argues that it is not appropriate for a misdemeanor offense. Russell's disappearance and abduction story captivated the nation before police determined it was a hoax. Her attorney issued a statement acknowledging the fabrication, and Russell apologized for her actions.