Police in West Virginia are considering whether to charge a U.S. Naval Academy student who they say lied about being the victim of a kidnapping and extortion plot.

Police first received a missing-person report on 21-year-old Matthew C. Sanders of California, Maryland Sunday afternoon. He was supposed to be headed for Annapolis but did not arrive at the academy.

On Monday, police issued a statement saying Sanders was found unharmed in Preston County. They did not say where or with whom.

Late Tuesday, police issued another statement saying Sanders first claimed he was the victim of a kidnapping and extortion scheme, but later admitted he made up the story.

Police did not immediately return telephone messages about Sanders or his motives.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.