Texas mom charged with misdemeanor, fined $570 for an overdue library book
Kaylee Morgan, a stay-at-home mother of five from Bastrop County, went to renew her driver’s license only to find out she had a warrant out for her arrest because of an overdue library book.
The DMV rejected the 30-year-old’s license renewal and informed Morgan she needed to contact the court about the warrant.
“I audibly laugh, and I am shocked because I haven’t been pulled over. I haven’t gotten any tickets,” Morgan said in a Facebook post March 28. “It just didn’t compute.”
$570 fine issued for overdue library book
Morgan was issued a $570 fine for the overdue library book from the Navasota Public Library in Grimes County.
“It’s a freaking book y’all,” Morgan said in a Facebook post on March 29. “It’s not the Declaration of Independence.”
At the time Morgan said she spoke with the judge, she was pregnant and experiencing some complications while her husband was working out of town. All of which Morgan informed the judge of, she said in the Facebook video. The books were possibly a few weeks late at the time, Morgan claimed. There was one that was too big to fit into the return slot and the system was down, Morgan recalled explaining to the judge.
“She said she didn’t want to hear my excuses,” Morgan said in the video. “That I need to take responsibility.”
The judge then compared Morgan’s overdue books to stealing from Walmart. Morgan’s record now shows she has “stolen government property,” according to her Facebook post.
“She said to make no mistake, that if you are driving in Grimes County with or without your kids and you get pulled over, we will arrest you,” Morgan said the judge told her.
What are the library’s policies for overdue books?
The city of Navasota requires two written notices to be sent requesting the return of library materials within 30 days from the due date. The library can then file a complaint against the person responsible for the materials and suspend their library cards.
Failing to respond to the complaint letter within 10 days by returning the materials and paying the overdue fine results in a misdemeanor criminal offense. This is punishable by a maximum fine of $500, according to the city of Navasota.
“It is so silly, I have a warrant out for my arrest for past due library books,” Morgan said. “This is not fake, this is not made up.”
Morgan started a GoFundMe for the fine and has raised $3,665. Morgan did hire a lawyer, which will cost $3,000, covered by the donated funds, according to the GoFundMe.
The additional funds will be donated to the Smithville Public Library and the Navasota Public Library to pay off other debts owed, according to Morgan’s GoFundMe.
The American-Statesman contacted the library’s attorney for comment and did not receive an immediate response before publishing this article.