BREAKING NEWS – Hoover, Alabama – An Alabama judge found Carlee Russell guilty of two misdemeanor charges after she faked her own abduction in July.

Hoover Municipal Court Judge Thomas Brad Bishop found Russell guilty on charges of false reporting of an incident and false reporting to law enforcement, both misdemeanors.

The state recommended one year in jail, the maximum, which is six months for each charge. They also recommended a fine of $831 and restitution of $17,974.88.

“I shouldn’t be blamed for the inefficiency of the police,” Russell said to the judge after she was convicted. “If they would’ve found out quicker that they were being duped by me, the $18,000.00 that I have been ordered to pay, would be drastically reduced. And I feel I shouldn’t be penalized because the cops weren’t doing their jobs.”