Print

Mail

wiki links

`Dog' Chapman and crew facing charges in Mexico

Three bounty hunters, a reality TV producer and an actor were charged Friday with illegal deprivation of liberty and criminal association after they captured one of California's most-wanted fugitives in this resort city.

Mexican officials argue that Hawaii-based bounty hunter Duane ``Dog'' Chapman and the rest of his crew should have gone to police instead of trying to whisk convicted rapist and cosmetics heir Andrew Luster out of Mexico for a reward.

Both charges carry a maximum of four years in prison, prosecutor Marco Roberto Juarez said.

``These people carried out the detention here without any support or collaboration from any Mexican authority,'' Juarez said.

Chapman, his brother Timothy, his son Leland, reality TV producer Jeff Sells and actor Boris Krutonog were arrested about two hours after they captured Luster near a Puerto Vallarta taco stand where he had just ordered breakfast.

On Thursday, authorities expelled Luster to the US, where he is appealing a 124-year prison sentence for the drugging and rape of three women.

The five remaining Americans wore brown prison uniforms and stood behind a green metal grate Friday as a court clerk questioned them through a translator about their ages, names and other details and formally informed them of the charges.

They initially appeared tense and haggard, but smiles broke out as attorneys informed them that they would be able to post bail, which was set by a judge at US$1,430 each.

All five posted bail, but instead of being set free they were turned over to immigration authorities for questioning and later were returned to a city jail for the night.

Before coming to Mexico, Chapman had told reporters he hoped to reap a reward from the US$1 million in bail that Luster had forfeited by fleeing during his trial. But bounty hunters have no special privileges in Mexico.
This story has been viewed 2686 times.