Oklahoma man facing jail time for long overdue movie rental

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) -- Universal Studios paid a lot for the movie "Ted," but somewhere next in line has to be Lonnie Perry who rented the movie in 2014.

"I lived in Claremore at the time, just a regular weekday. I went home from work, stopped by and rented a movie, then went home and watched it," said Perry.

He thinks the 2014 rental of "Ted" set him back about $5 or $6 at the time. Shortly after, he became homeless. He threw all his things in a box, the rented DVD included, and moved. He completely forgot that he never returned it until he got a phone call from the Rogers County District Attorney's Office recently and then a letter in the mail.

It's become a very expensive DVD in the past four years. It's now $218.07.

"I just don't have that kind of money right off. I'll get it, and I'll pay it. I'll do what I have to do. I just think it could have gone a different route," said Perry.

It could go a very different route if he doesn't pay up: a warrant for his arrest.

We spoke with the store and they say they tried to get in touch with Perry several times, but they couldn't track him down, so they eventually passed it off to the DA since it is more or less stolen property.

"I understand the video place having to do what they've got to do. There's other means of trying to get a hold of people without a warrant," he said.

The store will get $19 for the movie and $25 for lost profits. The DA gets $174 as part of a state statute that deals with unreturned movies.

"It wasn't worth the $5 I rented it for," Perry said.

Nevertheless, he says unless something changes and he gets some leniency and forgiveness, he'll pay up.