Woman Arrested, Charged with Theft for Unreturned Library Book

Published January 14, 2015

An Iowa woman was arrested because she failed to return a library book.

Shelly Koontz, 39, was arrested Thursday night on a fifth-degree theft charge. She is accused of keeping "The Freedom Writers Diary," which she checked out from the public library in nearby Jesup in April.

Police say the book — which is about a high school teacher's effort to inspire students to write — is valued at $13.95.

Court records show library employees tried repeatedly to contact Koontz by phone and mail. A police officer even visited her home last September.

Officials at the Buchanan County jail say Koontz was released after posting $250 bond. No telephone listing for Koontz could be found in the Independence area.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/story/woman-arrested-charged-with-theft-for-unreturned-library-book