Ashley Todd

PITTSBURGH — A John McCain campaign volunteer will enter a probation program for first-time offenders for falsely reporting that a Barack Obama supporter robbed her and then assaulted her and scratched a "B" on her cheek when he saw her McCain bumper sticker.

Ashley Todd, 20, of College Station, Texas, was released from the Allegheny County Jail on Thursday after appearing before a city judge and waiving her right to a preliminary hearing on a misdemeanor charge of making a false police report.

Todd has been jailed since Oct. 24, when police say she acknowledged making up the story about the assault and robbery near an automated teller machine two nights earlier. While jailed, Todd underwent a court-ordered psychiatric examination and was deemed to be competent to stand trial, but in need of further counseling.

"Our focus was really, 'This is somebody who appeared to have some mental issues,"' said Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney Chris Avetta. "And we wanted to make sure she doesn't hurt herself or anybody else."

As a condition of her release, Todd must stay with an uncle in New York. She also must provide the court with her home address in Texas and one for her mother, who also lives there.

If Todd does that, she will remain free and enter the special program after returning to Pittsburgh for her formal arraignment in January. Under the first-time offenders' program, Todd will serve probation, normally for about a year, after which her record will be expunged if she completes it without getting into trouble. Mental health counseling will be a condition of the probation.

The charge Todd faced carries a maximum two-year jail sentence. Assistant police chief Maurita Bryant said Todd must abide by the conditions of her release or risk being prosecuted on the charge.

"I think what she needed mostly was counseling," Bryant said. "The only one she actually hurt was herself, although there could have been so many other ramifications based on her actions."

Bryant was referring to the national media attention the case generated when a picture showing Todd with a black eye and a red, backward "B" on her cheek was posted online.

Initial reports of the mugging prompted calls of support from the Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, and his running mate, Sarah Palin. The College Republican National Committee at first criticized the attack, then fired and disowned Todd once the hoax was exposed.

Bryant also said the racial aspect of the report made it more sensitive. Todd is white and claimed her assailant was a 6-foot-4 black man who supported Obama.