Christopher Anspach Serves 10 Days In Iowa County Jail For Overdue Library Books

"Crime and Punishment" just jumped to the top of Christopher Anspach's reading list.

An Iowa court sentenced Anspach to 10 days in county jail for failing to return his overdue library books, according to The Smoking Gun.

Anspach, 28, borrowed 27 books and other media from the Newton Public Library on Jan. 17. After months without returning the items and not responding to overdue notices, the library, which values the borrowed items at $770.67, decided to take the case to the next level.

"After several attempts had been made to contact Anspach by phone and certified mail with no luck, Newton Library contacted the Newton City Attorney and Newton Police Dept," according to a July 26 complaint obtained by The Smoking Gun.

It remains unclear whether Anspach will be catching up on any reading while serving time. According to the "Books" section of Anspach's MySpace account, discovered by The Weekly Vice, Ansapch says, "HAHAHA!!! I dont f***in read!"

In addition to 10 days at the Jasper County Jail for the misdemeanor theft, the court ordered Anspach to pay restitution to the library and a $625 fine.

More Dumb Criminals:

Comments

[rubbish379]

03:15 PM on 09/23/2011

Well thanks to the court tax payers are picking up the bill. Give him community service and fine him, like any normal judge would have done. Make him pay not taxpayers.

[henrypapillon]

08:46 AM on 09/15/2011

Maybe Anspach should start reading...his mail. If he doesn't change his attitude let him sit there.

[Nicole Ward]

02:02 AM on 09/12/2011

This reminds me of the poem that was posted in my middle school library:

Overdues / Shel Silverstein

What do I do?
What do I do?
This library book is 42
Years overdue.
I admit that it's mine
But I can't pay the fine--
Should I turn it in
Or hide it again?
What do I do?
What do I do?

[Wonder Woman2]

03:50 PM on 09/09/2011

Could it be possible that someone else used his name?

[henrypapillon]

08:47 AM on 09/15/2011

Why didn't he respond to his mail?

[rsxsims]

01:22 PM on 09/09/2011

I guess one would say" fear the library", those overdue books will find you in jail. also, please if you dont read, dont check out books, it may save the county from putting you "up" for a couple of days or save your phone from going directly to voicemail .

[Fatdoggie]

08:55 PM on 09/08/2011

Texas needs to send their "Don't Mess With Texas" signs to Iowa.

[K White]

08:41 PM on 09/08/2011

Wonder if his ten days in jail will get him fired from Pizza Hut. Then he will have trouble paying that restitution and fine. Oh, well.

[henrypapillon]

08:48 AM on 09/15/2011

My dad used to say"Burn your a**, sit on the blister."

[edayres]

02:24 PM on 09/08/2011

Holy Crap! Can you imagine what would happen if closed his bank CD ahead of time?

[mamahappy]

01:47 PM on 09/08/2011

Jail is a not a fitting punishment for overdue books. A fine would have been sufficient. I'm embarrassed to be an Iowan today.

[henrypapillon]

08:48 AM on 09/15/2011

He shows no remorse or change in attitude. Maybe he should stay there until he improves.

[mamahappy]

10:32 AM on 09/15/2011

Or not!

[Kay Nicks]

01:23 PM on 09/08/2011

Gotta love a polite thief. Moral of the story..don't steal if you have a conscience.. chances are it won't work out too well for you.

[Jeffersoda]

09:01 AM on 09/08/2011

Why couldn't he just pay a fine?

[edgemo]

08:41 AM on 09/08/2011

The guy is a thief, but until the libraries start paying royalties to authors based on how many borrow their books - pot, meet kettle.

The only difference between a Library and Napster, is scale.

[ugotstyle]

05:47 PM on 09/10/2011

lol @ "pot, meet kettle."

[Susan Shaffer]

01:20 PM on 09/11/2011

my library sorts books that have not been borrowed enough and sells them at 3 for $1

[tracerhaha1]

07:10 PM on 09/11/2011

I meant borrow songs from napster.

[tracerhaha1]

07:11 PM on 09/11/2011

sorry i replyed to the wrong comment.

[Mary Shaver]

08:08 AM on 09/08/2011

He seems so proud of not reading. But considering he works at a Pizza Hut, he no doubt eats there a lot and jail food is probably better then a steady diet of pizza. I like Pizza Hut, so don't get on me for this. Just not a steady diet of it.

[lynniemiller]

05:31 AM on 09/15/2011

It's a job.

[celestialmotion]

07:49 AM on 09/08/2011

All libraries need a Lt. Bookman. He would keep these thieves in line. It is theft and deserves punishment.

While your thinking about that , think about this , the library closes at 5:00 , no exceptions ,this is your final warning. Got that kewpie doll. And you put on a pair of shoes before you walk into the
Newton Public Library.

[only1nik]

07:30 AM on 09/08/2011

crap i have an overdue book in my car. gonna go drop it off asap. LOL

[Susan Shaffer]

01:21 PM on 09/11/2011

some light reading while stopped at the lights?

[only1nik]

07:56 AM on 09/13/2011

what do you mean while stopped..... :)