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Man Sentenced to Three Years for Book Thefts from Baltimore CountyA Maryland man was sentenced to three years in prison February 7 for checking out more than 400 books from the Baltimore County Public Library and selling them on the street.Phillip Akbar Shabazz went from branch to branch, checking out hundreds of books using as many as 10 different library cards under various names, according to library officials. On one day alone, they said, he checked out more than 60 books, the Baltimore Sun reported February 8. Officials said Shabazz owed more than $8,400 for the cost of the books, late fees, and collection agency fees. “To my knowledge this is the first time we’ve taken somebody to court,” BCPL Assistant Director Deborah Wheeler told the Sun. “We’ve never seen anything this large.” Shabazz’s haul included nine copies of Bad Girlz by Shannon Holmes, seven copies of Gangsta by K’Wan, and a book identified in the court records as Holy Qur’an: Arabic text. Randallstown branch Manager Darcy Cahill said when staff asked Shabazz why he needed so many books, he replied they were for his daughter’s book club. “It seemed like the book club was reading a new book every day,” Cahill said. In October, the library sent Shabazz a letter stating he was banned from all BCPL branches until he returned the materials he had borrowed and paid all fines. After his conviction, Wheeler told the Sun that if Shabazz were to settle his account, the ban would be lifted. “He would be welcomed back,” she said. Posted February 10, 2006. |
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