www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/25/wilbanks/index.html
LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- Jennifer Wilbanks, the Georgia woman who fled the state and faked her own kidnapping and sexual assault before he r wedding, was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury, the Gwinnett County d istrict attorney said. Wilbanks, 32, is charged with one count of making false statements, a fel ony punishable by up to five years in prison, and one count of making a false report of a crime, a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail, Dis trict Attorney Danny Porter said. "I think it's appropriate," he said at a news conference.
"The next step in the process would be the issuance of the bench warrant for her arrest," Porter said. "I feel confident that arrangements can be made for her to turn herself in, and then we will take the next step fr om there." The medical assistant from the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, had been schedul ed to marry in April at a lavishly planned wedding including 600 guests and 28 attendants. Just days before the ceremony, she disappeared, promp ting a massive, three-day search that local authorities said cost thousa nds of dollars. Eventually Wilbanks called authorities from a pay phone in Albuquerque, N ew Mexico, and said two people had abducted her, then recanted her story during questioning by the FBI and police. Albuquerque police have said they will not file charges. Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter said the jurors surprised her. "I think I was a little stunned they went for both the felony as well as the misdemeanor," Lasseter said. They are very thorough and do what they believe is to be justice." Local authorities are negotiating a possible settlement with Wilbanks' at torneys over the cost of the search for her. Wilbanks' attorneys "have countered back with $13, 000 plus, which actually covers the overtime hours and out-of-pocket exp ense for food and clothing -- or food and gas and things like that," Las seter said. Porter said Wilbanks would likely appear in court within 30 days. Wilbanks has voluntarily entered "a highly regarded, inpatient treatment program ... to address physical and mental issues," according to a state ment released by her church's public relations firm shortly after she re turned to Georgia. Porter said he had not spoken with Wilbanks but had been in contact with her attorney, Lydia Sartain. Sartain is out of town until next week and would not be issuing a statement, her office said. She previously has sa id she does not believe Wilbanks committed a crime, but restitution for the expense her disappearance caused will be forthcoming. On April 26, Wilbanks failed to return to a home she shared with her fian ce, John Mason, after telling him she was going for an evening jog. On April 30, which was to have been her wedding day, Wilbanks called poli ce and then her fiance from an Albuquerque convenience store. A copy of an Albuquerque police report says she initially told police and FBI agents she had been abducted and sexually assaulted before being re leased at the store. When an FBI agent told her that her story did not seem credible, "Jennife r admitted she had lied about the kidnapping and the sexual assault," th e report said. "She had left Georgia because of the pressures of her wed ding. The list of things she needed to get done and no time to do it mad e her feel overwhelmed." Wilbanks told officers that before going jogging she had called a taxi, w hich took her to a Greyhound bus terminal. She went by bus to Las Vegas and then Albuquerque, she said. Wilbanks has issued a public apology through her family's pastor. Althoug h the statement made no mention of her plans to marry Mason, both of the m separately have said the marriage is still on. "Later recantation doesn't excuse you from the criminal behavior, under G eorgia law," Porter said. "That would be like stealing something and the n putting it back. That statement was Wilbanks' claim that she had been abducted, as well as descriptions of the perpetrators, Porter said. Belcher, who was near Ma son's home when Wilbanks called him, drove to the home and got on the li ne during the call, which Porter said was recorded. Both Porter and Lasseter were asked whether they felt any sympathy for Wi lbanks. I think most of the worl d now would like to see this over, but I also think they know that for e very behavior, there's going to be some type of justification." She said she hoped Wilbanks would avoid serving any time in jail. "I don't think sympathy plays into the decisions that I make," Porter said. "On a personal leve l, I'm glad we're not investigating a murder-kidnapping. I'm aware of some of the issues that are involved in this. But in terms of making the decision, I have to follow the evidence and follow t he law."
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