INDEPENDENCE, Iowa - A woman charged with theft after fail-
ing to return a book to an Iowa library said she believes
her arrest was "extreme." Shelly Koontz, 39, said she was
arrested at her Independence home at 8:30 p.m. Thursday
and charged with a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree theft
for failing to return "The Freedom Writers Diary" to the
Jesup Public Library after checking the book out in April,
The (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Gazette reported. "I do think it's
extreme going to jail over a library book," said Koontz,
who was released from the Buchanan County Jail after post-
ing $250 bond. However, Koontz took responsibility for
failing to return the book. "It was my fault, and I should
have had it back, but I was busy," she said. The criminal
complaint filed against Koontz said library employees
contacted her with four phone calls, three letters and one
certified letter informing her that she needs to return or
pay for the book. Koontz said the book was apparently lost
during her family's recent move from Jesup to Independence
but she would be glad to pay for the book "or do whatever
I need to do to make it right." "You have to have a sense
of humor. Maybe I'll tell the judge I'm a slow reader,"
she said.