Warrant Issued for Texas Mom for Overdue Library Book Due Last March: 'I Literally Laughed Out Loud'

In March 2023, Kaylee Morgan checked out two books for her homeschooled kids from the Navasota Public Library

Book lovers beware!

A Texas mom of five said a warrant was issued for her arrest for overdue library books.

In March 2023, Kaylee Morgan checked out a couple of books for her homeschooled kids from the Navasota Public Library.

At the time, Morgan said she was pregnant and dealing with extreme morning sickness. She failed to return the books on time. However, her husband did return all but one book because that book didn’t fit in the library’s dropbox.

According to Morgan, she never received any notices from the library to return the books because she had moved, NBC News reported.

Morgan said she found out about the warrant for theft of government property after she attempted to renew her driver’s license last month.

"When I get there, they told me they can't renew it because I have a warrant out for my arrest," Morgan said, per KHOU11. "I am just shocked. I literally laughed out loud. I said this has to be a joke and it wasn't."

The fine was $570.

Morgan said she tried to explain what happened to a judge but the judge “didn’t want to hear my excuses and I needed to take responsibility,” she wrote on a GoFundMe page. “I offered to pay for the missing books even though I KNOW it got returned. She said we were way beyond that and I needed to make it right. She told me that by returning the books late, I had done the equivalent of walking out of Walmart without paying for merchandise.”

Morgan said the library fiasco has been stressful.

"I understand that we have deadlines for a reason and all of those things, but there has to be a better way to cultivate community engagement, instead of tearing the community apart," she said, per NBC News. "You could come in and read books to the kids for community service, you could help build the little free library or bring in canned goods. Any number of things could be done."

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Morgan said with the money raised on GoFundMe she has hired a lawyer to help fight the ticket.

"I know several moms have commented that they've already canceled their library card out of fear of this happening to them because you never know when you're going to have a death in the family or you get into a car accident or any number of things,” she said, per KHOU11. “You could break your leg and not be able to return your library book and what? You have to go to jail over that? I think it's excessive.”

Navasoto city attorney Cary Bovey could not be reached for comment.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.