DETROIT – If you enjoy conspiracy theories, here’s one:

Monica Legg, a 43-year-old antiwar protester arrested last Thursday at her home in Lewiston, Mich., and charged with failing to return a rented video, says the Man – as in the government – is prosecuting her because of her political views.

The connection: The same day she was arrested, she said, her photo appeared in the Detroit Free Press with a report about protests. Moreover, she said Wednesday, her 45-year-old husband, Donald Legg – who has a bumper sticker on his car that criticizes Vice President Dick Cheney – was charged, too.

But the prosecutor, video store owner and state police say that politics has nothing to do with the arrest.

Suzanne Cronk, who owns the Timbertown Video store in Lewiston, said that she let the Leggs rent videos on faith, and that when the tapes didn’t come back, she tried to contact them but didn’t get a response.

Finally, Cronk said, she called the police.

“I don’t have a political agenda,” said Trooper Pat Pullum, who was the arresting officer. “It’s just my professional duty.”