california woman who admitted to faking her kidnapping sentenced to 18 months in prison

Sherri Papini was sentenced to 18-months in prison for the California woman who admitted she faking her kidnapping in 2016.

Papini’s disappearance for several weeks caused national attention. There was a frenetic search and extensive media coverage. Papini eventually returned to her homeland with a detailed story about being kidnapped by two “Hispanic” women, who kept her chained to a pole for three months. She was then beaten and branded, before being freed by the side of a highway.

Authorities concluded that Papini was the one who had made up the story after an extensive search for her captors. Federal prosecutors claim that Papini was actually staying with her ex-boyfriend in southern California and had suffered injuries herself to support the false statements.

Papini, a Redding resident, was arrested in the early part of this year. She accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors, which included admitting that she had fabricated the incident.

Papini’s lawyer and probation officers had suggested a month in detention and seven months of supervision home detention. To deter others, William Shubb, a senior US District Judge, opted for an 18 month sentence.

Judge said that he had considered the severity of the offense as well as “the sheer volume of people who were affected”. These included the law enforcement officers who searched her, the community who believed her for four year, and those who lived in fear due to her false story.

Shubb stated, paraphrasing the argument of prosecutors in a court filing. “They must be sent the right message… We have to ensure that crime doesn’t pay.”

Papini, who was emotional all through the proceedings, calmly answered “Yes sir” when asked by the judge if she understood her sentence. She cried and acknowledged her guilt in comments she made to the judge before her sentencing.

She said, “I am so sorry to all the people who have suffered due to me.” “I am guilty, your honor. I am guilty for lying. I am guilty in dishonor. It is impossible to undo what has been done. It can’t be undone.”

Veronica Alegria, assistant US attorney, dismissed Papini’s comments as manipulation. Alegria said to Shubb that Papini would do anything to reduce her punishment at this point. “This case is serious, and there have been very real damages to society.

Alegria stated that “there was a community living in fear… Miss Papini took cash from real victims.” This hoax may cause victims of crime to not believe that they will be believed and taken seriously by law enforcement.

Papini was not allowed to answer questions from reporters outside the courtroom. She was surrounded with more than a dozen people who hugged her, including some who were close friends. She was accompanied by her sister, her husband’s, since she separated from her husband. After she pleaded guilty, she filed for divorce and sought custody.

William Portanova, the defense attorney, said that it was a fair sentence even though it is longer than what we wanted.

Portanova stated that Papini was now 40 and was disgraceful and troubled. She should have the majority of her sentence served at home. However, the prosecution said that it was essential that she serve her entire sentence in prison. She was ordered to report to prison by the judge on 8 November.

It is still not clear what motivated Papini’s elaborate hoax. According to a FBI criminal complaint, investigators stated that many people, including her ex-husband and family, had told them she had a history in lying to draw attention.

Northern California residents rallied to find Papini after she vanished. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $49,000 for her family. The hoax had ” severe consequences” on Latinas living in the area. Some of them stopped walking in groups of two or driving SUVs and started to drive SUVs.

In exchange for Papini’s guilty plea, the prosecution agreed to seek a sentence at the lower end of the sentencing range. This was to reduce the maximum 25-year sentence by allowing for an eight-month or 14 month period of custody.

Papini has not provided any explanation for her actions. This is surprising to even mental health professionals who have said that her behavior doesn’t fit with any standard diagnosis.

Portanova stated that “Papini’s painful early years twisted, froze and froze” her in support of home confinement. He said that he couldn’t imagine a harsher public disclosure of an individual’s innermost self after her deception was finally exposed. The punishment feels like a lifetime sentence and is already severe.

Prosecutors said that her “past traumas and mental health issues cannot be attributed to all her actions”.

Papini agreed to pay $150,000 to law enforcement agencies for costs related search for her and non-existent kidnappers. She also has to repay $128,000 she received as disability payments after her return. Shubb stated that she would not be able repay the money unless she wins the lottery.