Updated:2006-09-23 10:56:32
TV Bounty Hunter Offers Mexico an Apology
AP
HONOLULU (Sept. 23) - TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman hopes to work
out a deal to avoid extradition to Mexico to faces charges of illegal
detention and conspiracy in his capture of a cosmetics company heir
there three years ago, his lawyer said.

Bounty hunting is a crime in Mexico.

Chapman and his two co-stars on the show "Dog The Bounty Hunter," were
arrested and jailed in Hawaii last week.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has until Oct. 16 to file papers in support
of their extradition, but Chapman's attorney, Brook Hart, hopes to
resolve the issue before then.

Chapman is said he would offer an apology, pay a fine, forfeit the bail
he posted in Mexico and make a charitable contribution, Hart said.

"What he's prepared to do is take responsibility for not having to stay
around to face the charge," he said.

The trio had ensnared convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor
heir, on June 18, 2003, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. But they, too, were
arrested by Mexican authorities.

Chapman posted about $1,300 for his release, and based on "flawed legal
advice" thought he could leave the country and Mexican authorities would
have no further interest in him, Hart 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.

I think he needs to serve some time. Maybe a deal where he pays to be
held in the US instead of Mexico. He broke the law. The way the "offer"
sounds it is a bribe. Even the mexicans will tell you bribes are common
in mexico with goverment and law officials. Yet bribes are illegal there
as well as here. It sounds like Dog is just wanting to throw money at
the problem instead of facing the music.

Sort of like "the pot calling the kettle black".

Everyone has a job to do. Do it with honor. He "preaches" about his
bail jumpers going to court to make it right...he needs to lead by
example.

FALSE PROPHET.

That's exactly what I was thinking Kat...when I first heard the news
about all this I thought they would pull his show. In reality it
probably only boosted his ratings. I won't be watching anymore...

J

wow, i'm a lil suprised about some thoughts on this subject. the
convicted felon that dog captured in mexico raped repeatedly and fled to
a country where hunting him was illegal. However, sometimes one must
break the law to do the right thing. I hope that dog is able to work out
a deal with the mexican authorities and commend him for following thru
on his public pledge to find this rapist and return him to prison where
he belongs.

i don't know if he knew that bounty hunting was illegal in mexico or
not(you'd think he would have looked) but either way he will pay for it
it's just a matter of how much he pays. i think the more important story
here is what happened with to luster? why is dog's criminal activity
more important or news worthy than lusters'

So, it's do as I say not as I do for Dog? We are all greatful he got
this scumbag and brought him back for justice for the atrosities he
committed. It isn't so much that he broke the law as it is the fact he
did not do what was required of him to make it right. In my eyes he's
guity of doing the same thing that the thugs he captures does. He
should have made his appearance and been done with it.

J

he was definitely wrong by going and undoubtedly a bit charged up to go
after someone who showed no remorse but i wouldn't ever put him in the
same boat as some of the people. how do you compare a guy who jumped
over trying to capture a jumper with a guy who jumps because he was
accused of rape or murder. he must correct the wrong but hopefully he is
treated with the respect that he gives everyone else.

I don't put him in the same category with regard to his crime, only with
his actions in not following through with correcting his own error in
judgement. It's hypicritical.

J

If you stand firm on a principle, than I say waffling on that priciple
is being a hypocrite.

I think Dog does a great service in putting scumbags where they belong -
but don't assert yourself as someone who stands strong on moral
principles and renig later...that's bogus.

J

it can be looked at as hypocritical but he probably felt strongly that
if he did not do something to catch him that this guy would leave the
country and be free to rape again. i think when you think of him as a
person you definitely have to think about that. i'm not saying that it
is alright to break the law to capture someone you think is guilty but
if he pays for it i think it should be left alone

he made a mistake and now he's gonna pay for it. are people really that
judgemental where one mistake will do you in forever? i doubt that
anyone in this world is perfect and mistake free.

I honestly don't give a crap that he broke the law to get this f*ck, but
it was the not making the court appearance that gets me...what excuse
could he have for that? It's really inexusable for a man in his
position.

Dog is in the public eye and people look up to him for what he believes
in and what he stands for. For the most part people are very forgiving
and will love him anyway for who he is and what he does. It was just
poor judgemnt pure and simple, but it taints his credibility and he
loses points with me sorry.

And as far as making mistakes, good lord, where we all be if we weren't
forgiven from some of our transgressions? I for one am grateful that my
family loves me in spite of some of the stupid shit I've done or said in
the past. At the same time I've had to do my part to make amends for
those mistakes as well. Making mistakes does have a price. There is
much to gain, but most always something is lost to some degree.

J

i competely agree with you and am not saying your wrong. he should have
went to court. i don't love him(i barely watch the show)but don't you
think that if he pays for the mistake he made because he realized he
messed up that he should be afforded the chance to not have people look
at him like he's a hypocrite. one mistake does not make him a bad person
or a hypocrite, if it does we are all hypocrites. i personally don't
care if you think he's a hypocrite but the world is not black and white
and once you draw them lines, it's hard to go back.
he made a mistake and he is now trying to right it, i don't think that
qualifies him for the term hypocrite because it was a mistake and it's
being corrected.

maybe people shouldn't look up to him so much just because he's on t.v.,
he's still just a man. how come when a man tries to do the right things
in life makes a mistake it's some huge blow to everyones sensibility and
conscience but nothing is really said about someone who is continously a
dirt bag because it is expected. i think more of the focus needs to be
put onto the dirtbags and quit trying to bring a good person down.
people shouldn't look up to or idiolize people anyway, they should put
theirself in that position.

My feelings are this, he made a mistake and now he is taking care of
it...good for him! I don't really watch his show, I have a few times,
but I am not a faithful viewer!
We all make mistakes...it just depends on how we deal with them, thats
what counts :)

that's just it KB, people do look up to him because of what he does and
the fact he's on TV doing what he does. He has put himself in the
position of being a "role model" Practice what you preach...that's all
I'm saying.

He stepped in shit...nuff said. I just take issue with someone whom
portrays themselves in such a manner and does exactly what he expects
others not to do. That's all. And you are right...he's just a man
understandably and he should be held accountable for the same crap as
the rest of us.

J

What bugs me is he is fighting not to be sent to mexico. He is trying
to sweet talk his way out of this with MONEY. I really did not comment
on the first thread because I do not watch the show and did not take the
time to look for the facts. I believe he needs a light jail term
sentence over finacial payment for jumping bail. What he got put in jail
for I hope he would get off with fines or warnings because he did a good
service to man kind. But if there is proof he knew it was illegal to
capture him in Mexico ahead of time he needs the book thrown at him.

that is kinda what the big deal is because there probably would not be a
discussion about this if he went to court. he should pay the price.

Duane Chapman is a decent guy with (mostly) good intentions. The
problem I have with this situation is that he represented OUR LEGAL
SYSTEM when he went to Mexico, grabbed Luster, was court-ordered to turn
him over to Mexican authority, REFUSED THAT COURT ORDER, and then jumped
bail. We try to portray ourselves as a just and lawful nation, setting
a good example for other countries, yet we have "the old west" making
and breaking rules to suit themselves. When he crossed into Mexico, he
was stripped of the job classification of "Bail Enforcement Agent". He
became an ignorant American...and he broke the law. You can't claim to
be a lawful Christian and do that. It just don't fly.

The only reason he is "doing the right thing" now is because Mexican
authority demanded...and rightfully so...that he be arrested and made to
be accountable. If he intended to "do the right thing", he'd have gone
to court like he preaches to his skip jumpers. And what IF Chapman
hadn't gone down to Mexico? Someone else would have caught him.
Chapman's big mouth and chest thumping got him arrested. If he'd spent
his effort getting Luster back to America instead of bragging, he might
never have been arrested at all!

As for what happened to Andrew Luster, here is a link to the CBS News
story, part I and II. Read it for yourself, and read about Chapman's
arrest in the story. Luster was charged with 87 counts; found guilty of
86 counts and received 124 years in prison.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/19/48hours/main541212.shtml