A theft charge has been dismissed against an Independence woman who failed to return an overdue book to the Jesup Public Library.
Shelly Koontz was charged Jan. 22 with fifth-degree theft and jailed for not returning “The Freedom Writers Diary,” a book valued at $13.95 that she checked out last April. She was released after posting $250 bond.
Her attorney, James Peters, says the case was dismissed Thursday after Koontz agreed to pay the library a $13.95 fine, return the book and pay about $50 in court costs.
Buchanan County Attorney Allan Vander Hart says a library complaint led to the arrest.
A woman who answered the library telephone hung up when asked if anyone could comment.
A number listed for Shelly Koontz was disconnected.
Extreme Reaction
This was a pretty extreme reaction for just one $13.95 overdue book…I suppose there are extenuating circumstances, although for the life of me I can not imagine what they would be.
Still in CA, it is against the Civil Code to purposely keep a library book, it is considered a misdemeanor offense and could be punishable by law, but we have never gone to that extreme. There are instances when we should, let’s say when 1 person rips-off an entire DVD or CD collection, or mutilates a series of books that have contents they disagree with.
So, now I am left to wonder, if there was an altercation between the library staff & S.K. that cause the law to be called in.
I’ll bet we are missing the entire story!
>^..^<
From earlier story
Library employees tried to contact Koontz with four phone calls, three letters and one certified letter, according to a criminal complaint. A Jesup police officer visited her home in September and informed one of Koontz’s daughters that Koontz needed to pay for the book or return it.
When the book still hadn’t been returned by Oct. 10, a library official called the police again, wishing to proceed with theft charges.
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090123/NEWS/701239951/1001/NEWS