A former John McCain campaign volunteer will undergo counseling and enter a diversion program for first-time offenders for fabricating a story that an armed Barack Obama supporter robbed her and scratched a backward "B" onto her cheek.
Ashley Todd, 20, of College Station, Texas, who confessed to police that she marred her own face, was released from jail Thursday after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
As a condition of her release, she must undergo the counseling and is expected to enter the first-time offenders program that could leave her with a clean record if she successfully completes it. The probation typically runs a year and could involve community service.
"When we were putting this together, our primary concern was that she was not a threat to herself or anyone else," Deputy District Attorney Chris Avetta said about the agreement. "She does not have any prior criminal convictions."
Todd is charged with filing a false police report, which carries a maximum two-year jail sentence and $5,000 fine. She appeared in court wearing a red Allegheny County Jail jumpsuit. The "B" on her right cheek has faded to a light red scratch. There was no testimony at the hearing, conducted at the judge's bench.
Todd had been jailed since Friday, when police said she admitted to making up the story that generated national publicity and was read by Internet users worldwide. Her photo showing the cut on her cheek and a black eye was posted online.
A psychiatrist with the county's behavioral clinic examined Todd while she was jailed and concluded she was competent to stand trial, but needed counseling. Todd must provide the court with paperwork every two weeks documenting that she is receiving psychiatric treatment.
Todd, who is white, initially told police a 6-foot-4, knife-wielding black man robbed her Oct. 22 at a Bloomfield ATM on Liberty Avenue before beating, fondling and cutting her because he was enraged by her McCain bumper sticker.
In a second version, Todd said she was attacked on nearby Pearl Street after walking away from her car, police said. She told police she wasn't sure whether her bumper sticker or a campaign button on her jacket angered her attacker.
After hours of questioning, she told detectives she was driving around and "came up with a plan" to manufacture a story about being attacked after noticing the mark on her cheek looked like a "B."
Police said Todd couldn't explain why she invented the story.
Todd, who was represented by a public defender, had no family members at the hearing. She will stay with her uncle in New York before returning to Texas, her attorney said. She must provide the court with her address in Texas and one for her mother, who lives there.
