Posted on 09/16/2006 10:11:39 AM PDT by Hannibal Hamlin
Television bounty hunter Dog Chapman set free on bail in Hawaii
By Associated Press
Saturday, September 16, 2006 - Updated: 12:08 PM EST
HONOLULU - TV reality star Duane “Dog” Chapman and two co-stars accused of illegal detention and conspiracy in the bounty hunters’ capture of a cosmetics company heir in Mexico posted bail and were released Friday.
Chapman was released on $300,000 bail after spending the night in a federal detention center and his co-stars on the popular A&E show “Dog The Bounty Hunter” were freed on $100,000 bail each.
Chapman, his son, Leland Chapman, and associate Timothy Chapman, no relation, were arrested Thursday on charges stemming from the capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster on June 18, 2003, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, officials said.
Chapman’s capture of Luster, who had fled the country during his trial on charges he raped three women, catapulted the 53-year-old bounty hunter to fame and led to the reality series on A&E. Luster is now serving a 124-year prison term.
Bounty hunting is considered a crime in Mexico, and charges have been pending against the three since local police in Mexico arrested them shortly after they roped in Luster. They posted bail but never returned for their court hearing in July 2003, officials said.
Chapman made the sign of the cross and mouthed “I love you” to his wife, who was sitting in the front row of the crowded courtroom.
The men are now required to wear electronic monitoring devices until they return to court for extradition hearings to face trial in Mexico. The judge said they were not flight risks.
Chapman and his tattooed crew were ordered to surrender their passports, to stay in Hawaii and not possess any firearms.
Defense attorney Brook Hart, who successfully argued during the 1-hour, 10-minute hearing that his clients have no reason to be locked up, called the devices “overkill” but did not object to their use.
“It’s ironic that the bounty hunter would go around with a bracelet while arresting people. But so be it,” he said. Reporters and fans packed the courtroom, and several supporters held signs outside the federal courthouse saying, “Let go our hero” and “In Dog we Trust.” A&E TV crews were filming the events for a future episode of Chapman’s show. “Our whole family likes Dog. He captures people who do wrong. Plus my older sister wants to marry Leland,” said 11-year-old Shannon McNamara, of Los Angeles, who was wearing a Bounty Hunter shirt.
Chapman’s son Leland, 29, and Timothy Chapman, 41, assist him in exploits chronicled for the TV show around the Hawaiian Islands. The show focuses on Chapman’s family as much as the bounty hunting, which generally involves tracking down bail jumpers, often creating emotional scenes with repentant captives.
A member of a biker gang as a young man, Chapman was convicted in 1977 of being an accessory to murder and sentenced to five years in prison.
It's a "dog eat dog" world after all.
It is B.S., Mexico will hide criminals from us, won't extradite them, then why are OUR federal agents locking up the bounty hunter & why is he agreeing to be extradited? He should fight that!
Just more sign that our U.S. Attorney General is bonkers.
Uh Mexico did deport scumbag luster and he is now in a California prison.
Chapman(Dog) skipped on his bail for 3 years. JMO, if he would have shown up he would have been acquitted(due to the publicity) and he could have gone on with his TV show.
Wonder if this will become a political hot potato on the immigration issue front. as the election draws closer. It could, if Dog manages it right.\
Fox News would love it, and the other networks would be forced to pick it up.
It depends whether Dog has the stones and the smarts (which I think he probably does), to use publicity and issue as part of his defensive strategy.
It would be in his interests to do so, and it would be in conservatives' interest to support him.
So jumping bail now becomes a "conservative" cause?
Its called being sold out (as Im sure you already know).
Dog is a hero for capturing this man who raped several women.
Our prosecutors are crazy for pursuing this.
Dog should be given a medal, not jail.
Actually it our prosecutors abiding by an extradition treaty(for Chapman's jumpin bail).
If you let Chapman(Dog) off, then Mexico has the right to let the next felon off. Tit for tat.
Just my opinion the Mexican Judge gave him 3 years to come back, after Chapman promised he would come back and like I said before if Chapman had shown up he would have been acquitted or given a minor fine, because of the publicity.
Was DTBH even on 3 years ago? Or was it before his popularity? I think this is actually great publicity for Dog. It might be a little inconvenient for a little while, but will be milked for all its worth.
The capture of luster is what launched his TV show.
JMO, the Mexican Judge is miffed that Chapman hasn't shown up after a 3 year grace period, but that does not matter to some on FR, they think Mexicans are automatically scum of the Earth.
Your faith in the Mexican justice system is hilarious.
Are you going to call Dog a coward on this thread, like you did on the last two?
You do know that in Mexico, ones needs a photo ID to vote. Try that in Detroit or Philadelphia, before you knee jerkingly bash Mexico.
Nice redirection senor.
I said Mexican justice system. Voting has noting to do with the corrupt "justice" system down in Mexico.
And yes I am bashing Mexico. They deserve it.
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