Elliott

Butts Faces Prison for Toilet Paper Theft

Suzanne Marie Butts is in trouble. She was arrested last week after an employee at the Marshall County Courthouse allegedly saw her taking three rolls of two-ply toilet paper out of a storage closet. Ms. Butts swore it was the first time she'd done it, but workers at the courthouse say they'd been noticing the toilet paper was disappearing much faster than usual.
Ms. Butts has been charged with fifth-degree theft, which is a misdemeanor. Normally, she'd be sentenced to no more than a year in jail, assuming she's found guilty. However, because she has prior theft convictions, she may be punished more severely under Iowa's habitual offender law.

"She's facing potentially three years of incarceration for three rolls of toilet paper," Police Chief Lon Walker said. Ms. Butts does not work at the courthouse. Chief Walker said it's not clear why she was there.

(June 11, 2007, Findlaw)

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