Kaylee Morgan shared her distress over a $570 overdue fine for a book in Texas. (From her GoFundMe page)
A mom was surprised when she tried to renew her driver’s license in a small town in Texas. Texas When renewing her driver’s license in a small town, a mom found out about a $570 warrant for an overdue library book she had borrowed for her home-schooled children the previous year.
“I was so angry. I was sad and mad,” said Kaylee Morgan, recalling the situation from a March 2023 book loan from the Navasota Public Library in Grimes County, Texas. “The whole week leading up to court, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or cry.” NBC News She expressed her distress in Navasota, a city of 7,643 people.
She detailed her anguish on a GoFundMe page, which raised over $3,000. GoFundMe, At the time, she was pregnant and having complications.
At that time, she had just become pregnant and was experiencing difficulties. She mentioned that her husband had returned all but one of the books that couldn’t fit in the book bin. She claimed she never received the warrant and only found out about it when attempting to renew her driver’s license. When she tried to explain her side, she said the judge didn’t want excuses and told her to “take responsibility.” She was informed that it was too late when she offered to pay fines.
“She said we were way beyond that and I needed to make it right,” Morgan recounted the judge's words. “She told me that by returning the books late, I had done the equivalent of walking out of a store without paying for merchandise.” Walmart The document obtained by local affiliate Houston’s NBC affiliate identifies her as Kaylee Cooper and lists two overdue books about Vincent Van Gogh.
The complaint obtained by local affiliate Houston’s NBC affiliate identifies her as Kaylee Cooper and lists two overdue books about Vincent Van Gogh. KPRC An official notice from September reads, “Be advised that the Navasota Police Department is currently holding a warrant for your arrest.” Act Now to Avoid Going to Jail.”.
A notice from September stated, “Be advised that the Navasota Police Department is currently holding a warrant for your arrest.” Act Now to Avoid Going to Jail.” Morgan is part of a family with one income and five children and deals with financial difficulties, she mentioned.“This has put a strain on my breastfeeding journey as I now have to pump in case I literally go to jail — over library books,” she said. “This has been insanely stressful for my family and the punishment does not fit the crime. I’m just a mom with 5 kids trying to home-school and spread kindness. This is unjust. Please spread the word. Whatever additional funds we receive will be donated to the Smithville Public Library and the Navasota Public Library to pay off other debts that might be owed.”
The Navasota City Attorney Cary Bovey did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Law&Crime. But Bovey told KPRC that her case is pending and under investigation.
A mom was surprised when she tried to renew her driver’s license in a small Texas town—she had a warrant for $570 for an overdue library book borrowed for her home-schooled kids last year.
The Navasota City Attorney Cary Bovey did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Law&Crime. But Bovey told KPRC that her case is pending and under investigation.