Dog Tries to Avoid Pound
Maybe a little begging might do the trick.
Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of A&E's top-rated series, Dog the Bounty Hunter, is looking to strike a deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office to avoid extradition to Mexico, where he's wanted for nabbing a fugitive rapist in violation's of the country's anti-bounty-hunting laws.
Chapman, 53, son Leland, 29, and business associate Timothy Chapman (no relation), 41, were collared Sept. 14 by U.S. marshals at their Hawaiian home base at the behest of Mexican officials. The trio are facing charges of illegal detention and conspiracy stemming from the 2003 capture in Puerto Vallarta of Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir who fled to the country after being convicted of sexually assaulting three women in California.
After being held overnight in a Honolulu jail, the reality star and his mates were freed on $300,000 bail last Friday and are awaiting an extradition hearing to determine whether they'll be shipped south of the border.
In the meantime, Chapman's attorney, Brook Hart, is trying to forestall that fate, and is offering the Mexican government a bone. Hart says Chapman is willing to make a public apology, pay a hefty fine and make a large charitable donation.
Hart said that Chapman took off from Mexico following his arrest was due to "flawed legal advice" he received from a lawyer. Chapman was supposedly under the impression that authorities would never press charges against him.
But they did, and the hunters became the hunted after they jumped bail and skipped a July 15, 2003 court hearing to address the charges.
Chapman eventually parlayed the capture of Luster (who was returned to California and is serving a 124-year prison sentence) into the A&E TV show.
Dog the Bounty Hunter, which chronicles his exploits as a devoted family man and head of Da Kine Bail Bonds, has become the cable network's most popular program and transformed Chapman--a former felon who says he turned his life around in prison and has since apprehended more than 6,000 bail-jumpers and criminals--into a modern-day action hero.
Federal prosecutors in Hawaii did not immediately respond to calls for comment on Hart's offer. They have plenty of time to mull the Chapmans' fate, thought--an extradition report isn't due until Oct. 16.
Dog isn't going to go quietly. The thrice-divorced father of 12 and his current wife, Beth, turned the legal dilemma into a TV special that aired last Tuesday. The public confessional is apparently having an impact. To date, more than 79,000 fans have signed an online petition demanding the U.S. and Mexico governments roll over and drop charges against him.
Fans can also expect Chapman to expound on the case--and the rest of his colorful career--in his memoir, You Can Run But You Can't Hide: The Life and Times of Dog the Bounty Hunter, hitting bookstores in February.
The Big Picture
All Growed Up Guess Zac has officially adopted the smoldering look, 'cause we haven't seen a smile in weeks
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (916)
- Rob and Kristen "Relaxed" Together in NYC (673)
- Costars and Suits Give Robsten Their Blessings! (650)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (446)
- Rob Flies Back to L.A. With Kristen (440)
- Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—or His? (436)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (423)
- Review: New Moon Is Either Just Fine or Way Mopey, Depending On Who You Are (362)
- Bitch-Back! Is There Drama on the Gossip Girl Set? (345)
Top 10 Stories
- J.Lo's Ex: There's "Maybe One Spanking," but I'm Not Selling a Sex Tape
- Nicole Richie Back in Her Own Bed
- GMA Doesn't Want Adam Lambert's Sloppy Seconds...Cue The Early Show!
- Goodbye or Good Riddance to Jon & Kate Plus 8?
- Oprah's Mom Settles Clothes Call Lawsuit
- Rihanna Sings Threesome, Avoids Going Naked on GMA
- Michael Lohan Runs Out of Family Members to Alienate, Starts Leaking Jon Gosselin Tapes
- It's a Sexy Job, but Adam Lambert's Gotta Do It!
- Donny Discovers Parts He Never Had Before for Dancing With the Stars Finale
- End of a Weird Era: Jon & Kate Plus 8 Signs Off
Fashion Police
Sloppy SuitingGwyneth dares to experiment with hard-to-wear satin, but the result is dull and unpolished
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
0 Comments
Now loading...