Coming off the heels of Carlee Russell’s falsified report of being abducted in Hoover, State Senator April Weaver (R-Brierfield) announced Monday that she will introduce legislation in the 2024 regular session that creates a new felony crime for faking an abduction. The 24-year-old Hoover woman admitted to faking her own abduction.
“This fictitious kidnapping caused fear and shock not only throughout the legislative district I represent but also throughout our state and nation,” Sen. Weaver said in a statement. “Individuals who concoct and carry out sham kidnappings and lead our law enforcement officers on wild goose chases must be given severe penalties for their deceptive actions.”
Russell was charged with two misdemeanors after her story was shown to be false. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he will seek restitution if she is convicted. Russell has been charged only with misdemeanor false reporting of an incident and misdemeanor false reporting to law enforcement.
“That’s our intention if we’re able to gain a conviction, to be able to seek restitution,” Marshall said. “It is no doubt that part of the role that we have in this case is not only develop the facts to present before the prosecution but also to develop an argument relating to restitution.”
Marshall has asked legislators to pass legislation increasing the penalties for reporting fabricated felonies to law enforcement/
“During the recent hoax carried out by Carlethia Russell, significant monetary and human resources were used at the local, state, and federal levels to resolve this fictitious event, and numerous volunteers donated their time in record-breaking heat to search for the reported victim,” Sen. Weaver continued. “I am proud to support our law enforcement officials and the good people of our communities by sponsoring this bill, which will bring higher punishment for those who intentionally report false abductions to law enforcement and waste precious resources.”
Weaver has already begun consultations with state and local prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and the Alabama Legislative Services Agency about this proposed legislation.
Sen. Weaver said that her bill will include strong prison sentences and mandatory restitution requirements for the full cost of resources expended by law enforcement agencies during a hoax abduction.
Carlethia Nicole Russell is a 24-year-old Hoover woman who admitted to faking her own abduction and prompting an exhaustive three-day search for the imposter victim.
Marshall is concerned that the faked abduction could potentially adversely affect future victims and how the public responds to their crisis.
“The thing that I think is the most harmful is the many members of the general public that came forward in response to the concern there was an abduction of a young female and trying to find her,” Marshall said. “And I think the concern there is similar to the old crying wolf story, right? Will you have that same public outpouring of help in the future if this arises?”
Weaver said that she will prefile this legislation for the 2024 Alabama Regular Legislative Session, which is scheduled to convene on February 6, 2024:
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