Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks has paid Duluth, Ga., nearly one-third of what the city spent searching for her in April, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter said a check for $13,249.09 was delivered to the city clerk. The city can’t sue Wilbanks for more, according to an agreement signed by her attorney and the Duluth city attorney.
The payment covers about 400 overtime hours worked by police and other personnel, as well as out-of-pocket expenses incurred during her search. That leaves the city responsible for about $30,000. Last week, a grand jury indicted Wilbanks on a felony count of making false statements and one misdemeanor count of falsely reporting a crime. The felony charge carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The misdemeanor could bring up to a 12-month sentence and a $1,000 fine. Wilbanks indicated in a statement released May 10 that she had entered a “highly regarded inpatient treatment program.” Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter said Tuesday that he’d heard from Sartain and “we’re going to work out an appropriate time for her to turn herself in.”
Link: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0605/01bride.html