# @downinnadesert on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DdfL7xeD1ym
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70597278-downinnadesert-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/abe438c0e8.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-19T23:25:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Down In The Desert🌵 (@downinnadesert) — https://gondola.cc/downinnadesert

## Caption

A Mesa couple is accused of checking out hundreds of books from the Mesa Public Library, never returning them, then reselling hundreds of them to a used bookstore. 

Police say the investigation started May 19 after a woman brought 19 books into a Half Price Books near Power and Southern. Employees noticed the books still had Mesa Public Library labels and refused to buy them before contacting the library. 

Library staff scanned the books and traced them to Ian Bartlett. Police say one account in his name had already been blocked after about $1,565 worth of books were never returned, while a second account had another 66 books outstanding. 

Investigators then learned Athena Bartlett had allegedly completed five separate transactions involving 423 books at the same bookstore between May 7 and May 14. Police said the couple had approximately $6,200 worth of unreturned library books, with numerous books still unaccounted for. 

On August 10, library employees spotted Ian and Athena back inside a Mesa Public Library location and contacted police. Both were arrested and booked on felony charges of theft and trafficking in stolen property. 

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and asked anyone who may have unknowingly purchased one of the missing library books to contact Mesa Police. 

Via: Mesa Police Department / AZFamily

#Mesa #Arizona #MesaArizona #ArizonaNews #AZNews

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,076
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 40

## Tags

arizonanews, mesa, arizona, mesaarizona, aznews

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