Student arrested for taking library books

Published 11:05 pm Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A Northwest Whitfield High School student, called a good student by an administrator, was charged with felony theft by taking for allegedly stealing 198 library books valued at more than $2,700.

Assistant principal Mike Sholl spoke to deputies Monday morning after Phillip Sudbury, 17, of 335 Old Apison Road, told him that he had taken a “couple of 100 books” from the libraries at Northwest Whitfield High School and the Whitfield County Career Academy, according to a Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office report.

Sudbury’s father found the books in Sudbury’s room, the report said.

“He had told his parents that they were discarded books,” said Carolyn Towns, Northwest principal.

The report did not indicate how long Sudbury had allegedly been taking the books. Towns said the media specialist at Northwest noticed last year during inventory that some books were missing.

“They were classic, older books,” Towns said. “She had an idea as to who was doing it and she began watching him.”

Towns said many of the books may have been discarded anyway since the media center at Northwest will be renovated later in the year and many of the books were old.

Sudbury, who is a senior, has been suspended from school but will be allowed to return and complete his classes through an in-school suspension program, Towns said. Sudbury has not been a discipline problem, she said.

“He apologized to me,” Towns said. “He is a good attendee, on the college prep track, and is headed to college. He has a great future ahead of him and he’ll overcome this.”

Sudbury was released from jail Tuesday afternoon on a $2,000 bond. Phone calls to his home were not immediately returned Tuesday evening.