Carlee Russell Ordered to Pay $50 Monthly After Struggling to Pay $18K Restitution

Disclosure: State of Alabama-based writer. This article is a work from cited sources for informational purposes and is used with permission. No affiliate links are included.

Residents of Alabama may remember the case of Carlee Russell, who made headlines in July 2023 after an unusual incident that gripped the public’s attention.

On the night of July 13, 2023, Russell called police, claiming to have seen a child walking alone along the interstate. When officers arrived, they found her car abandoned by the roadside, but no trace of Russell or the child. Her family reported her missing, and a massive search was launched. Then, on July 15, Russell returned home, claiming she had been abducted.

Carlee Russell, random judgePhoto byYouTube, Google

However, questions quickly arose when no other reports of a child walking on the interstate were found, and after further investigation, Russell admitted she had fabricated the entire story. By March 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the hoax and was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution.

During her court appearance on October 16, 2024, it was revealed that Russell had already completed over 100 hours of community service at the Salvation Army and Community Food Bank and had been receiving counseling. She had also begun making payments toward her restitution, though her attorney, Emory Anthony, noted that the widespread attention her case received had made finding steady employment difficult. Russell had been working small jobs, but the irregular income led to inconsistent payments.

In court, WIAT News reported that prosecutors stated "Russell paid $49 in June, close to $120 in July, and $30 each month in September and October. They did not provide a payment amount for August," causing Judge Carpenter to get frustrated with Russell's payments.

Ultimately, the judge decided that Russell would be required to make monthly payments of $50 to fulfill her obligation to repay the restitution amount.

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