South Elgin man accused of stealing rental car

If you fail to return a library book, you'll have to pay a fine.

But if you refuse to return a rental car, you could be doing time.

A South Elgin man on Tuesday faced felony charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a converted motor vehicle. Police say he had the car almost two months longer after he was supposed to turn in the keys.

According to court documents, Terrence Woods, 24, of the 1000 block of East Middle Street, rented a red 2008 Dodge Charger from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in South Elgin on Feb. 6.

He was to return the car Feb. 24 and after three letters and several phone calls - some from his mother - he still would not bring the car back, court documents said.

Woods also was supposed to call Enterprise within a 30-minute time frame March 19 to settle the dispute, but he never picked up the phone, documents said.

On April 15, officers from the Champaign County sheriff's office pulled Woods and the Charger over on outstanding traffic violations, South Elgin Police Sgt. Mike Doty said.

After running the license plate, police discovered the Charger had been reported stolen, Doty said.

Police returned the undamaged car to Enterprise the same day, Doty said.

On Monday, South Elgin police made the three-hour drive downstate to arrest Woods, after he handled his violations in Champaign County, Doty said.

Woods faces up to seven years in prison, if convicted on one of the charges.

He was unable to post 10 percent of his $50,000 bail Tuesday and was transported to the Kane County jail.

Woods is due back in court on his 25th birthday - April 29 - at the Kane County Judicial Center.