LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – The television hit star, the bounty hunter, now also a best-selling author, Duane “Dog” Chapman is upset with a $300,000 (€222,000) U.S. federal bond that remains in place even though a Mexican judge has dismissed charges against him in the case.
Chapman posted the bond and was freed after being arrested last September as he fought extradition to Mexico. He was charged under Mexican law with “deprivation of liberty” for his 2003 capture of fugitive convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir, in Puerto Vallarta.
The case catapulted the Honolulu-based bounty hunter to fame and led to his reality series on the A&E cable channel, “Dog the Bounty Hunter.”
Mexican Judge Jose Alberto Montes dismissed the charges last month, ruling the statute of limitations had expired. Prosecutors have appealed the decision.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren left the bond in effect Thursday.
“We’re devastated,” Chapman said, according to a news release form his publicist.
The U.S. Office of International Affairs in Washington opposed lifting the bond, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Johnson requested more time to work on the case, Chapman’s spokeswoman, Mona Wood, said Friday.
“This is unacceptable,” said Beth Chapman, the bounty hunter’s wife.
