Carlee Russell turned herself in and has been charged with falsely reporting an incident

Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who admitted to staging her own kidnapping and triggering a 49-hour-long search, turned herself in and has been charged with making false reports.

The 26-year-old is being charged with falsely reporting to law enforcement officers and falsely reporting an incident, both misdemeanors.

She was released on bail, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis announced at a news conference.

Her story captured the nation's attention, but as it turns out, she did not see a toddler on the side of the road, wasn't kidnapped, did not leave the Hoover area and acted alone, Emory Anthony, Russell's attorney, said in a statement Monday.

Both misdemeanor charges have a maximum sentence of up to a year in jail and a fine up to $6,000, Derzis said.

"I know many are shocked and appalled that Miss Russell is only being charged with two misdemeanors, despite all the panic and disruption her actions caused," he said.

"Let me assure you I too share the same frustration," he went on. "But existing laws only allow the charges that were filed to be filed."