This must be a special book to go to jail over

I found this funny, a $250 fine for a $13 book…and she still has to pay for the book in addition?

Hmm

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa  — An Independence woman who police say failed to return a library book has been arrested.

Thirty-nine-year-old Shelly Koontz 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 Jesup Public Library in April 2008.

Police say the book was valued at $13.95.

Court records show library employees tried repeatedly by telephone and mail to contact Koontz about the book. A police officer visited her home in September 2008 and told Koontz’s teenage daughter that her mother needed to pay for the book or return it.

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

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2009/01/23/news/iowa/doc4979f1910d1a5534435417.txt?sPos=2