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Alabama lawmakers have passed a bill that will increase penalties for falsely reporting a crime to law enforcement, a move prompted by the high-profile case of Carlee Russell’s fake kidnapping in Hoover last summer. The bill, which passed with a 32-0 vote in the Senate, will make it a felony to falsely report an imminent danger to a person or the public, rather than just a misdemeanor. It will also make it easier to order restitution for the costs incurred by authorities in working on such cases.
State Attorney General Steve Marshall emphasized that the goal of the legislation is to deter individuals from lying about crimes and to ensure that those who do face the full force of the law. Russell, who admitted to fabricating her disappearance and faking her own kidnapping, ultimately pleaded guilty to giving false information to law enforcement. She received a suspended six-month sentence and was ordered to pay over $17,000 in restitution.
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