Woman Jailed After Forgetting to Return VHS Tape

A South Carolina woman was recently imprisoned for failing to return a VHS tape checked out from a local video store roughly nine years ago.

Kayla Michelle Finley went to her local police station a few days ago to report a crime. The 27-year-old hardly expected that such a visit would result in her imprisonment for the crime of failing to return a VHS copy of the film "Monster-in-Law," a film that starred singer-actress Jennifer Lopez and Academy Award winner Jane Fonda.

"Monster" Criminal Forgets to Return Video Tape

Finley rented the justifiably forgotten comedy from Dalton Video, a local video rental store, in 2005. It was a three-day rental, meaning the tape should have been returned within a 72-hour window.

But Finley completely forgot to return the tape and, according to the authorities, was sent multiple notices warning her about the possible penalties. (Source: cnet.com)

Finley, who was just eighteen when she rented the film, says she never received those warnings. Eventually, Dalton Video's owner went to the Pickens County magistrate to complain and the police responded by issuing a warrant for Finley's arrest.

Crook Released on $2,000 Bond

Regardless, the local authorities thought it appropriate to throw this serious criminal in prison for a period of 24 hours. A judge then issued a $2,000 personal recognizance bond and allowed Finley to go free.

Now, she's been formally charged with failure to return a video cassette.

Finley has told the South Carolina media that she plans to fight the charge. In a recent interview, she declared that it's "obvious that Pickens County has nothing better to do."

"I fully intend on fighting this; it's ridiculous I had this happen to me," Finley added. (Source: dailymail.co.uk)

In case you're wondering, Dalton Video -- like major DVD and VHS rental chain Blockbuster -- is no longer in business. However, this fact has no impact on the charges stemming from Finley's failure to return Monster-in-Law.