Duane Dawg Chapman, Bounty Hunter- International Bail Jumper?

New! the Duane Chapman Survey Blog

I have been getting literally dozens of emails and calls every day since Duane Chapman, or Dog Chapman, had been rearrested in Hawaii wanting to know exactly what’s going on.  Many of you are seriously pissed off, overjoyed or utterly confused so I thought I would shed a little light on the situation.

First off, many of you know that I am not a huge fan of Duane Chapman but I would just like to put this out there first: I am truly sorry that he and his family have to endure this difficult situation and I sincerely hope that they stay strong and that their faith in God gets them through this trial.  For all of my gripes I will admit that Chapman has made the most of his life since his stint in a Texas prison on murder charges and has inspired thousands upon thousands of people and children to be the very best they can be.  He has enjoyed success and suffered tragedy but has not lost focus.  I admire him for that.

This position is not going to be very popular with my peers in the bail enforcement industry- but I am not terribly worried about their opinion.  Oh Well.

Why exactly has Chapman been arrested this time?

The simple answer is that he arrested a very bad guy named Andrew Luster who was hiding out in Mexico in June of 2003.  He was not terribly discreet about the apprehension having drug a film crew along with him and during the ensuing commotion (Chapman and his crew tend to create a great deal of noise, clamor and chaos wherever they tend to find a fugitive rather than being calm, well-collected and precise in their actions) and refusal to release the Max Factor heir into Mexican custody, he was arrested by Mexican law enforcement on a number of charges, chiefly illegal detention and conspiracy (their version of kidnapping charges). 

The Mexican courts freed Duane Chapman and his two cohorts, Leland Chapman (son) and Timothy Chapman (not related), on bail pending his trial date which was set for July of 2003.  Bail is the sum of money you pay to the courts to ensure your appearance at your trial.

Duane Chapman did not appear in Mexico for his court date and the Mexican Government has subsequently requested his arrest and extradition back to Mexico to face charges for what they consider a very serious crime; the kidnapping charge alone carries a jail term of not less than 10 years and up to 40 years in prison. 

The U.S. routinely makes these same requests so there is nothing out of the ordinary here. It is not a result of some conspiracy hatched by the US or Mexican Governments.  Neither government is jealous that he is making millions of dollars, or that he has put a couple dozen bail fugitives in jail.  It’s not that hard to do in Hawaii… they don’t have far to run.  This is simply the machinations of justice: Duane Chapman may have committed some very serious crimes in Mexico; they say he is a bail jumper and they want him back in order to stand trial.  They made the request of our government who then complied by having the U.S. Marshals Service send a dozen agents to round him up at 6 a.m. like every other Federal fugitive.  This is standard operating procedure (SOP) and he wasn’t afforded any favoritism nor was he vilified as a result of his media status.  Let’s not forget Duane Chapman is a felon with a history of having committed violent crimes.

He has been released on bail again, this time awaiting his extradition hearing where a U.S. Federal judge will determine if there is probable cause to send him and Leland and Tim back to Mexico.

The bottom line is that Duane Chapman had no authority whatsoever to affect the arrest of anyone, regardless of their citizenship or fugitive status, in Mexico… period.  Mexico has made it very clear in the past that bounty hunting is illegal in their country and has imprisoned several other errant bounty hunters for the exact same thing.  Ignorance of the law is no excuse.  Kidnapping has historically been a rampant problem in Mexico and they take this stuff very seriously now. 

If you want to get technical about it he wasn’t even really bounty hunting; Luster was not surety-secured and, absent this not so minor detail, was not acting under the typical authority by which bail enforcement agents operate.  We are essentially an extension of the bondsman and his arrest authority, established by the Supreme Court in Taylor v. Taintor in 1872, over the defendants they bail out of jail.

I have always found it both ironic and sad that Duane Chapman “skipped” his court date in 2003.  Today I am hearing a lot of excuses coming from the Chapman Camp for why he essentially “jumped bail” thereby becoming an international fugitive.  They all sound exactly the same as the excuses I hear everyday from the bail-secured defendants I am dragging back into court.  Exactly the same.

Good luck, Duane. May God bless you and keep your family strong.

Comments

[Bob S.]

I was on Vacation in Puerto Vallarta during the Dog attack . Chapman made the entire town crazy and the local Law Enforcement was really pissed after he took off . The local police in Mexico Tourist zone like Puerto Vallarta do A great job protecting tourists and deserve some respect for long hours and low wages.

[April]

I may not know all the rules on bounty hunting but I do know that Dog is doing great work getting this people off the street...Who knows how many children and women Luster raped while in Mexico...and since their government doesn't look at rape as a crime..he would have never been charged there for that. Dog has done more than enough to help the American Government and has done more than even the FBI and CIA has ever tried to. I believe that Mexico "trading" him for a drug lord is absolutly crazy and the US would be stupid for allowing them to even set the rules for them harboring a fugitive.
Mexico is setting all the standards for Luster and letting him get away with every rape and druging done in the US. Why should Americans send the "ONE Person" thats actually standing up for what he does and believes in to rot in a Mexican jail or prison for something that should have been taken care of at the border whenever Luster went across. Mexico knew he was on the Top 10 Most Wanted and yet they allowed him to "camp out" in their country...
Dog, Tim, and Leland did something no one else would have ever done and that is greatly appreciated by us Americans. We love ya'll and you are in our prayers!

Thanks to the people who fight crime, stand up for the rights of women and children, and take criminals off the street like Dog the Bounty Hunter!!!

[faye]

To that comment about the police in mexico getting paid low wages for long hours of work , they choose to do so its not that hard to jump the border. "Obviosly" They want us to feel sorry for them. Their cost of living is lower than ours, and besides this has nothing to do with what is going on with DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER. Dog did what any other red blooded american would to get this scum bag piece of trash off the street. What if it had been your wife or your daughter that would have been the next victim of ANDREW LUSTER? Now that dog has found him and captured him we nor does anyone else for that fact have to worry about that ever happining again. Thank you dog for all you do it is greatly appreciated by all of us in TEXAS.

[faye]

yes i know he commited several crimes in the past in texas but everyone deserves a second chance and he has more than shown to everyone that he is capable of doing a turn around. so you can not judge a book by its cover.that would be like judging you for all the wrong doing you have done in your past years. life is to short to pass judgement on someone who has done so muuch good in the last 20 years of his life free dog chapman so he can get more drugs off the streets so my children wont get hooked on them

[The Anti-Harrell]

Sorry, Harrell, but America owes the Mexican government and people absolutely nothing. They are despicable neighbors who have a long history of standing in the way of the apprehension of fugitives hiding in ther country, and refusing to extradite fugitives facing death or natural life imprisonment. If "kidnapping" a fugitive hiding in Mexico (and there are thousands and thousands of them) is the only way to bring them back to face justice, then the Mexicans ought to accept that that's just the way it's gonna be, and in fact America ought to be a safe haven for "kidnappers" who bring such fugitives back here to face justice. "Setting a good example" is a worthless exercise and does nothing to bring about reciprocity from the Mexicans. We ought not indulge them and we should be treating them like the bad neighbor that they are in every regard--from extradition to immigration and virulent anti-gringoism that we are too ignorant to see and accept. I hate to break it to politically naive types, but this issue goes way beyond The Dog or any bounty hunter.

[The Anti-Burton]

Burton, er... Anti-Harrell, is that you???

Glad to see that you laid off the bottle long enough to actually form a lucid thought.

[faye]

this is faye and i never said that dog should not serve time for what he has done but are you saying you have never done any thing stupid in your entire life and never been cought? i have done stupid things in my life and never got caught. and yes what dog is doing in hawaii will effect my children because that crap comes over seas. and also the only reason you are able to do things in court or anything that requires a liscense is because you never got caught and have no criminal record. some people are more lucky than others. dog is not some charactor on tv he is a real person doing something good in the world just like the reality show "COPS" and its okay for them to do what they do? just because you have a seat in congress and most of the u.s. congress has done something wrong does not mean that you are perfect and until everone is perfect how can you judge someone who has done his time changed his life and got a rapist of the streets in a country were they thanks its okay?

[Jaxnpi]

This conversation can turn nasty in a hurry.Mexico is a neighbor of ours.I live and work in Jackson, MS. and travel throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma and sometimes Mexico.Most law enforcement officers on both sides of the border work very hard and are honest.Give Mexico the benefit of the doubt. They didn't knock Chapman in the head,roll him up in a rug and take him to Mexico. They went to our Court system and asked us to honor our treaty with their country.

[Mike]

Alright, ha ha... I just spent the last half hour or so writing my comment, and it got errased. that sucks. so I'm gona spill it short and sweet. Dawg did his job. sure, he jumped bail and past mistakes do come back to bite you in the ass sometime. I must say, it would sound kind of fishy that anyone would jump bail. but in his defense, why not have the two of 'em go on trial to begin with, and by the two, I mean Dawg and Andrew the guy he was after. first off, just look at the two extremities... Dawg jumped bail?? - o my God... cause he was chasin a rapist and a chimo?? ... yeah. so instead of just sittin there and saying, "well gee, there he goes... nothin we can do now" - he did his job. he did what any good person would do. okay, just look at it this way. what if it were an assassin, or a terrorist he was chasin?? what than??

[Kevin]

I don't follow stuff on "Dawg" very much, but why should we take the Mexican government seriously? They refuse to help out in issues dealing with the border and have actually encourage their people to cross illegally. That is a far more serious problem then the issue of a bounty hunter.

[Bill Harris]

Chapman should serve the time for the crime he has committed, then learn to move beyond it -- which is precisely the lesson he teaches to all the 'students' that he and his family have arrested over the years.

Chapman broke the laws of of Mexico by committing an act of kidnapping upon a person in a sovereign nation (regardless of how bad or good a person it happened to be). Therefore, he should pay whatever penalty that nation decides upon.

And another thing ... regarding all this hypocrisy about Chapman being "Christian": Chapman uses profanity without regard, as do his wife and family, and there is nothing Christian about that behavior. Worse, he models this behavior for millions of kids and teenagers in every episode of his shows. Further, for the sake of his own vanity, Dawg played superhero by capturing Luster -- jumping ahead of properly designated saw enforcement such as Interpol, United States Marshals, and the Mexican police.

"Who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind", and its time for Chapman to sit and spin. And its important that he do so, because vigilante justice, even though it is a quick-fix for the justice-hungry among us, leads to the breakdown of law and order. In a society without laws, any maniacs with a group larger than yours become your judge, jury and executioners. Personally, Im not interested in having the Hilltop Crips deciding my fate on some streetcorner.

Let justice run its proper course.

[NightHunter]

Mexican laws? Don't make me laugh, dude! Go on and talk about the laws of a corrupt country that HAD to know Luster was hiding there, but did nothing just because he had Mucho pesos!

A country that refuses to extradite cop killers, pediphiles, rapists and drug dealers to the US.

A country that has made kidnapping a national pastime, now wants to extradite US citizens for snagging another US citizen who was illegally there to start with?

Hell, Luster had GHB and a video camera in his Mexico hotel room! What do you think he was planning to do? Work on his tan? The Mexicans should give these guys a medal!

Dog did what was right and he had contact with US and Mexican authorities while he did so! Suck it up and spit out those sour grapes!

I'll side with the victims, and the potential victims on this one!

And by the way, I'm giving 50 to one odds that Dog is NEVER extradited for this thing!

Any takers???

Yeah.. I didn't THINK so!

[Sara Baker]

Ok first of all the mexican government said (in 2003) when the Chapmans crossed the border they would not bother them again. it says so in the Dog the Bounty Huner: The Family Speeks episode. and shouldn't that have any affect on whether or not he goes to jail. if people say they are not going to do something they should keep their word and deal with the fact that Dog didnt really do any thing wrong and he was just trying to help. and why dont you like him any ways.

[Melissa]

This is for El Scott Harrell, you say that you can not respect Dog because of the shit he done in his past but you need to look at him for what he is doing now not for what he did do. Dog and his family are getting scum off the streets so that we can be safe. Do you have something to hide? If you didn't you wouldn't have a problem with them. I love Dog and his whole family and when you put Dog down you are putting me and his family down and that's not cool. People do change. You can not look at what people did in the past but see what they are doing now. This is for Dog and the whole family, " My family and I love you all, we watch you all the time." Please keep helping keep me and my children safe and MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS YOU CONTINUE TO HELP EVERYONE AROUND YOU.

[James Abbott]

I am 100 percent behind Dog. He felt he had to do what he must do to get that sorry crimal off the street. I would have done that same thing. Mexico is a messed uo country any way. They love to have the sickest crimials in their country. They are just mad at the United States because we will not let their people come over here illegally.

[pro]

Heh matters not if he's done wrong or broken the laws in another country. What they did was take a sick ass and send him to jail reguardless of their methods. I supose had it been u it would be different. end of story

[Mark M.]

Mr. Harrell,

Thanks for your persistance responding to all the moronic statements made by Dog's blind followers. I've been keeping an eye on Dog's case and his actions and am really disgusted by Dog's criminal record and the records of most of his crew. Sure people can change, but if you're already a convicted felon (for murder! and other violent crimes) what business do you have entering another country and breaking their laws (WHATEVER THE REASON)?

This whole Mexico thing is really appalling. Imagine the outrage if a mexican "bounty hunter" decided to cross the U.S. border, and apprehend someone in the U.S.. Worst yet, imagine if they got caught, refused to obey the U.S. authorities and then jumped bail. I'm sure many a Dog supporter would be screaming for the mexican's extradition and worst. Huge double standards going on with Dog's supporters. There are laws in many countries (including the U.S.) that we may not agree with, but we can't just pick and choose. Worst yet, how can anyone try to condone illegal actions under the pretext of enforcing justice. The logic is beneath any rational thought.

If Dog felt so strongly about taking an illegal action for what he perceived as a greater good, then he damn well should have been ready to face the consequences. But he runs and hides and becomes just like those that he pursues. A fugitive. What a sham.

It was great to read how put off many in the bail bond industry are by Dog and his crews roughshod, larger than life approach. As someone who's biggest exposure to this business is Dog's show, I thought he was the rule, and not the exception. Good to know that the majority of those in the bail bond industry ARE NOT yahoo cowboys getting off on wild flamboyant b.s. and preaching to those in captivity. Your response to Luis' http://www.bondforfeitures.com/email/duane_chapman.htm completely changes my opinion of this business. You seem pretty low key, but you should consider going on Larry King to present the bail bond business as a business full of seasoned, calm professionals who DO NOT act like Dog and his theatrical crew. Hope Luis took your advice and sees Dog for what he is, a Media Hound who has little understanding of professional behavior.

[Scott MacLean]

At long last, my turn! First and foremost, as someone who countenances El Scott as a brother, friend, mentor and professional in this industry, he knows of which he speaks. I have made fugitive re-arrests with him, and never heard a raised voice or disparaging word spoken. The bondsman that was with us at the time, a very respected hunter in his own right, stated that neither of us had any blood pressure due to our subdued approach and practice of "Low Impact" Fugitive Recovery.

Mr. Harrell is responsible for taking thousands of fugitives off of the streets, professionally, quietly and without acclaim for doing so. He is not alone. This industry is made up of thousands more like him, unheralded heroes toiling quietly so as not to attract attention to themselves. It also doesn't embarrass the fugitive by public ridicule on television. There are a lot of industry professionals that were offered media opportunities and turned them down, repeatedly. We don't wish to become public figures as it would negatively affect our incomes.

For Dog and his family: I wish no ill will on them only good luck and best wishes. There are numerous critiques available to the learned on his actions in Mexico. The details are too numerous to expound here, but are available with a simple Google search. There was a legitimate legal remedy to this situation called a triple sealed warrant. It does take time as it involves diplomatic communiqués to accomplish. The end result is the same, Andrew Luster in jail, no hard feeling between governments, everyone with a photo opportunity and pats on the back.

The individuals that told Dog the whereabouts of Mr. Luster also told the FBI and they were on it, legally. Incidentally, they never received the $50,000 reward that Dog promised to anyone who had information leading to his arrest while on Fox News.

The bail Enforcement Industry is dangerous, difficult and requires unusual skill sets. You must not only know where to source current legal information but possess the ability to comprehend and apply it. You must be an investigator of the highest nature; you are hunting a human being who can in turn hunt you! You must be able to accomplish an apprehension with minimal people, since you can’t get on a radio and call for back up like law enforcement can. Since you are running a business, it is unreasonable to pay 10 people on a case that only pays you $500.00 and still remain profitable. You take your life into your own hands everyday and your family’s as well. Disrespecting a captured fugitive motivates him/her to come after you and your family. With the gangs that are prevalent today, it can be accomplished with a phone call from your captured fugitive while he/she is still in jail.

Please don’t attack the protectors of this craft unless you have successfully plied it. Yet, hold them in your prayers, as they are in danger even when they are not working. Further, don’t attack a learned individual’s thoughts on a subject that you are emotionally and irrationally bound to, yet seek his/her knowledge on the subject and develop an educated opinion. And when you are ready to present this opinion, use spell check!

[THOMAS]

HOW CAN SOMEONE SAY DOG RAN AND WAS HIFING WHEN YET HE IS ON T.V? SECOND OF ALL ANY MAN WHO WOULD NOT GO OUT THERE AND SAY FUCK THE LAWS THIS MAN HAS RAPPED OVER 80 WOMEN AND NO TELLIN WHAT OTHER THINGS HE HAS DONE, FUCK THE LAW (SOMETHING MAN MADE) YOU GO AND GET THE BASTARD AND IF YOU WOULDNT THEN YOU REALLY NOT A MAN, YOU ARE A PUSSY WHO GREW UP A NERD IN SCHOOL AND FOLLOWED ALL RULES WETHER THEY WAS GOOD OR BAD, RIGHT OR WRONG. AND EL HARRELL YOU DEFEND MEXICO A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT ARE YOU MEXICAN? AND TO DUDE UP THERE WHO SAID WHAT IF A MEXICAN BOUNTY HUNTER CAME TO THE US TO GET SOME ONE, SHIT I WOULDNT MIND AT ALL, CAUSE THE FUCKER DOESNT BELONG HERE ANYWAY, AND THERE ARE TOO MANY ILLEGALES ANYWAY. LESS OF MY TAX DOLLARS THAT HAVE TO PAY ENFORCEMENT AGENENTS TO HUNT THEM DOWN, LET THEM COME GET THEIR OWN PEOPLE.... AND AS FAR AS CURSIN AND DOG IS A CHRISTIAN, THERE IS NUTTIN THAT SAYS JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN YOU WILL LIVE SIN FREE, EVERYONE WILL SEND IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT YOU CAN STILL BE A CHRISTIAN AND HAVE FAITH IN THA LORD, SO BOTTOM LINE IS DOG DID WHAT A REAL MAN SHOULD DO, IF YOU DONT LIKE IT AND YOU BELIEVE HE SHOULD SERVE 10 YEARS IN A COUNTRY THAT ISNT HIS, THEN YOU REALLY SHOULDNT CONSIDER YOUR SELF AN AMERICAN...

[Richard]

dog is a felon who has obviously broken parole even if by comiting a crime in another country. he should be sent back to mexico to face charges. does he think that laws apply to all but himself? he hunts those who jump bail! he has jumped bail! he should go to jail. in mexico.

[J. P. Andrews]

The only thing that really upset me about this is that Duane Chapman didn't shoot luster. I'm a mother of two girls I don't think I would have been so nice to him. But then that's just my way of thinking.

jp

[rick]

The Dog did not go over to Mexico to catch a rapest but to collect the $1,000,000.00 of bail money that was on him. It was about the money and then when it was time to go back to Mexico to stand trail for what he had done he hides behind his wife and his show and the amercan people.Do like you tell all the people you catch grow up and take responablty for your actions.

[Brad]

All you that think he should got to Mexico suck!!!!
He put away a freak...good for him!!!!

[S. Poz....Michigan]

I would like to ask Mr. Harrell...are your writing a book using this web site? I do feel Dawg should have gone back to face trial. Do I feel he should have gotten jail time..no. I am a woman, and as a woman am appalled at how much men get away with abusing their gender priviledges. If a man bangs a woman, he gets a notch on his belt. A woman is a whore. A woman gets pregnant and the guy says get an abortion or never pays child support.

I am someone who was married to an abuser..physical, verbal, mental and sexually. Do you know what I hear from so called "Christians"...that because I divorced and remarried, that I have sinned and am a sinner. I believe myself to be a christian and try not to judge others. I am definitely not perfect and do swear once in a while.

Now, I am very glad that Dawg went and got this sexual predator because no one else had any success. Was it because the sexual predator was rich? Have you ever been raped? I have in my past marriage..more than a few times. I hear too many times..why did you not leave..dah! You do not want anyone else hurt and they isolate you from friends and family. I am tired of people in high positions not making good decisions on behalf of woman and children. They do not make proper decisions on behalf of their own citizens safety. Most of these poor decisions for woman and children are made by men.

Maybe Dawg should have gone about it in a proper way...but I thank him on behalf of us women and the female children of ours that could have been one of those dishonored and abused.

I would like to thank those men who wrote on this web site and stood up for the female population.

Mr. Harrell, do you have a wife, a daughter, a sister or a mother...what if it was one of them? What kind of stance would you take then?

Thank you for your time and a listening ear. God bless Dawg and his family and good luck. I am sure woman and children are very
thankful for people who stand up for those who cannot.

S. Poz..MI

[Clark]

While I esteem the experience of the Bounty Hunter professionals present, and have not all the evidence, I know money talks to poor, lawless countries.

I also have little concern for Dog's motives, with regard to this matter. Did he want to collect money? Was he just wanting to rid the streets of a serial-rapist? I don't care.

I fully stand behind the Dog. Have any of you not sinned? Have any of you not cursed? So, most, if not all, present have not committed felonies.

I'm not in the business of judging others, regardless of the weight of their alleged sins. It takes one with the understanding of God to do that. In fact, even God gives one a lifetime before he judges. Is that too simplistic? No, that's reality.

I sense jealousy of the Dog. Not everyone has the same ministries in life. God has given a variance of personality types to the multitudes of people. Thank you, Lord!

Would you like Dog to hold a spoon identically to the way you do? Or, should he also drive the exact model and year of car you do?