Rose Ellen is booked into the jail out in the high country of Utah. Warrants cite her on numerous charges of fraud, theft, and burglary. Investigators tell us, "It’s safe to say this gal ain’t no lady and she’s not to be trusted."

Now about the matter of trust. According to the Standard-Examiner newspaper in Idaho, Rose Ellen reports to a jail guard that she has a terrible toothache. She’s complaining and crying to all who’ll listen, "My tooth hurts and I need a root canal."

Eventually the jail captain tells the magistrate about the female prisoner who claims she needs a root canal. The judge orders her brought before him. She talks and cries before the judge about her pain and suffering. She even threatens to sue the jail.

After hearing Rose Ellen’s sob story, the judge signs an order releasing her to visit the dentist — without a police escort!

Nobody knows why the judge signed such an order. It’s general knowledge that the woman is locked up for 19 felonies and misdemeanors. Imagine — 19 criminal cases!

The jail calls a cab, and the driver later says he let her out in front of the dentist’s office. Nobody in the doc’s office knows anything about an appointment for a root canal.

Today, Rose Ellen is still in the wind. The sheriff is asking the judge why he turned her loose, knowing she’s in jail for 19 criminal charges?

"Well, I thought she needed a root canal," says the judge.

Deputies say Rose Ellen has no fixed address or place of employment. "She wasn’t even in jail long enough for us to fingerprint her," says a deputy. "She’s probably out there using somebody else’s name this very minute."

Our thanks to the Standard-Examiner and the Associated Press who first reported this story. And to all our readers we wish you a Happy New Year filled with good health.