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 News from Around Banderas Bay | August 2007 
Duane "Dog" Chapman: Dog the Bounty Hunter Off the Hook?
 Brenda Davis - The National Ledger
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| | Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman greeted Bobby Rivera and his mother, Leilani Serrano, both of Makiki, at a book-signing yesterday for "You Can Run But You Can't Hide" at Kahala Mall. (Rebecca Breyer/Honolulu Advertiser) |
Free Duane "Dog" Chapman was the rallying cry for the man that is the star of the show "Dog the Bounty Hunter." Now those fans and the Dog may get their wish as Mexican charges may have been dropped against the world famous bounty hunter. Chapman spokesperson Mona Wood has stated that the charges were dropped but the Chapman is still in the process of sorting out the details.
The Honolulu Advertiser notes that Chapman, along with his son Leland and colleague Timothy Chapman, are accused of unlawfully depriving international fugitive and convicted serial rapist Andrew Luster of his freedom. The three caught up with him last year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and returned him to United States. Luster is now serving a 124-year sentence in California.
Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico and the group had been charged by a Mexican court with deprivation of liberty. The Chapman crew was jailed for a brief time after the incident as bounty hunting is considered a crime in Mexico. They never returned and Mexico wanted them returned to the country to stand charges.
Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-CO, was one of the 29 Congressmen who tried to intervene. He said in 2006 that he was outraged at the U.S. government’s treatment of the Chapmans and took a shot at Mexican authorities: “Thanks to Mr. Chapman, Luster is now serving a 124-year sentence. It seems that Mexican authorities are pressing this case only because they are so stung by the embarrassment of failing where Mr. Chapman succeeded.”
Chapman's lawyer, Brook Hart issued this statement according to the Advertiser: "A Mexican court issued an order according to my co-counsel, but I haven't seen an English translation of it," he said. "So tentatively it's very encouraging. On the other hand I can't make any public comment about it one way or the other than to tell you that I believe what has happened is very positive and favorable for the Chapmans and once we get the order and translate it and determine what Mexico is doing, whether they're taking any further action and what (the U.S. attorney's office) may do in response to it, then we will certainly be able to discuss it more completely.
"All I can say is that the order that the Mexican court issued, I'm told, is based upon a finding that the statute of limitations expired and that the attempted further prosecution of the Chapmans is barred by that statute," he said.
'Dog' Chapman Says Mexican Charges Have Been Dropped
Kim Fassler & Lynda Arakawa - Honolulu Advertiser
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TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman last night said Mexican charges against him have been dropped.
"Who would believe that the day Mexico dropped the charges on Dog, Leland and Tim is the day the book comes out?" Chapman told an audience of about 300 people last night at an event at Kahala Mall launching his new book.
Chapman raised his arm, gave a big shaka, and the crowd cheered.
"The weight has been lifted off my chest," he said. "Viva la Mexico!"
Chapman, his son Leland, and colleague Tim Chapman were arrested in September by U.S. marshals in Honolulu and jailed on an extradition warrant requested by Mexico. Prosecutors in Mexico wanted to bring them to trial because they allegedly broke Mexican law by taking now-convicted rapist and Max Factor heir Andrew Luster into custody inside Mexico in 2003. Luster is serving a 124-year sentence in California.
Chapman's attorney, Brook Hart, yesterday said he has heard charges against the reality show star have been dismissed, but said he can't confirm it until he sees an English translation of an order issued by a Mexican court.
Hart said his co-counsel in Mexico informed him of the 15-page order and that he hopes to see a translation by today or Friday.
"All I can say is that the order that the Mexican court issued, I'm told, is based upon a finding that the statute of limitations expired and that the attempted further prosecution of the Chapmans is barred by that statute," Hart said.
"I can't comment further other than to confirm that yes, an order was issued, and yes, it appears to be a very positive result for the Chapmans."
Chapman's publicist, Mona Wood, said Chapman's only statement was, "Viva la Mexico," and that his wife, Beth, "added that she'd like to thank all the fans."
"We have heard the news; we're being cautiously optimistic because we do not have the document in our hands right now," Wood said.
Jonette Murota, 37, of Kaimuki, wore a Dog the Bounty Hunter T-shirt to last night's book-signing event at Kahala Mall for "You Can Run but You Can't Hide: The Life and Times of Dog the Bounty Hunter."
"It was a story that was really relevant because it was such an injustice," said Murota, who added she wrote more than 100 letters to legislators, Congress and President Bush asking them to intervene on Chapman's behalf. "He's an American hero. I'm very happy."
Hart, while emphasizing that he can't make conclusions about the order, said he would be "very surprised" if the order didn't also apply to Chapman's son and colleague.
"I believe what has happened is very positive and favorable for the Chapmans, and once we get the order and translate it and determine what Mexico is doing, whether they're taking any further action and what (the U.S. attorney's office) may do in response to it, then we will certainly be able to discuss it more completely," he said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Johnson declined comment, saying the U.S. attorney's office has not received any official information on the matter.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com. |
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