Months after fabricating her abduction and making a false report to police, Alabama woman Carlee Russell is set to reappear in court.
With her trial now scrapped for Monday, Russell will instead face a plea hearing before a Jefferson County Circuit Judge on Thursday afternoon in Hoover.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Russell was found guilty in October of false reporting to law enforcement, and falsely reporting an incident after calling 911 and claiming she saw a toddler walking on the side of Interstate 459.
Responding police officers found Russell’s car running on the side of the road with her phone, wig, and purse inside — sparking a frantic search that ended two days later when she walked home.
Rusell subsequently confessed through her lawyer, Emory Anthony, but she’s now asserting her innocence against the two charges. Anthony said Russell would appeal the case to the circuit court.
After Russell’s plea through her attrorney, the judge found her guilty because Anthony previously suggested they might appeal. Without a verdict, there can’t be an appeal.
“We stipulated an appeal of the case and the reasoning behind it was that they were trying to ask for jail time, which we totally disagree with, all right,” her lawyer, Emory Anthony said, according to NBC 13.
“So, in fairness, it’s no need of having a trial here knowing their position. So we have stipulated an appeal of the case, it will start anew in the Bessemer circuit court.”
Russell is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. for a plea hearing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo via Hoover PD]
