Posted on 10/23/2006 11:29:26 AM PDT by jmc813
Duane 'Dog' Chapman caught a much deserved break as Mexican court will delay prosecution of the 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' until more evidence in the case can be presented.
'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Catches a Break
On Oct. 17, an appeals court in Guadalajara granted an order to halt the criminal case, including extradition proceedings, against Chapman, his son Leland and associate Timothy Chapman (no relation) until further evidence and testimony is gathered, reports the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
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In a move that outraged many, U.S. Marshals arrested Chapman on Sept. 14 along with his son Leland and another associate after Mexico issued a warrant because of his capture of fugitive convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir, on June 18, 2003, in Puerto Vallarta.
Bounty hunting is considered a crime in Mexico.
Chapman was released on $300,000 bail after spending a night in a federal detention center. He and his crew have been facing extradition to Mexico since then.
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AP reports that the possible extradition has ignited an uproar among members of Congress and Chapman's fans, who consider him a hero for capturing a rapist and doing a job the government could not. Twenty-nine congressmen have sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to deny the extradition.
Leading that charge was Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.
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In 2003, Dog Chapman and his team traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to retrieve the rapist - Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster - who was wanted in the U.S. on rape charges and bring him to justice.
Thanks to the Dog, Luster is now in jail, serving a 124-year term.
Chapman and two others were jailed in Mexico for a brief time for the incident three years ago as bounty hunting is considered a crime in Mexico.
They posted bond and were released. Chapman believed he was working within Mexican laws by having a local police officer supervising the hunt for Luster. Chapman said also that he left Mexico in 2003 and didn't return for a scheduled court hearing based on the advice of an attorney there.
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At a press conference announcing the latest developments, Chapman said Mexico is becoming a safe haven for American fugitives and killers.
"These guys know where to run. Where can we go so the Dog can't catch us?" said Chapman, wearing a powder-blue dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black jeans, cowboy boots, a big silver bulldog belt buckle, a Rolex watch and mirrored Oakley sunglasses. He was not wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet that a judge agreed this week to remove.
***
For now - most fans and at least twenty-nine member of Congress are just happy the Dog can stay free and continue his work and his popular A&E show.
Go DOG!!!
Considered? It either is or it isn't against the law. What are the exact statutes?........
right on dog
semper fi
All you have to do is commit a crime so bad that you COULD get the death penalty.
Mexico will shelter your sorry murdering butt...
Dog's 'da man!
Of course, the best news would be that the charges have been dropped.
I wonder ....
If he fails to show for court in Mexico and the U.S. authorities put out a warrant, could he flee to Mexico to avoid arrest in the U.S.?
Once again, Tom Tancredo took the principled, lawful, and American approach to this issue involving conflicts between the governments of Mexico and the USA. Meanwhile, the Bush Administration not only stayed silent regarding Chapman, it didn't bat an eye while Border Patrol agents were sentenced to a dozen years in prison for doing their job.
Flame away, apologists.
For some reason, this passage reminded me of a Monty Python sketch with Graham Chapman:
Hello. Tonight on 'Face the Press' we're going to examine two different views of contemporary things. On my left is the Minister for Home Affairs who is wearing a striking organza dress in pink tulle, with matching pearls and a diamanté collar necklace. The shoes are in brushed pigskin with gold clasps, by Maxwell of Bond Street. The ' hair is by Roger, and the whole ensemble is crowned by a spectacular display of Christmas orchids. And on my right - putting the case against the Government - is a small patch of brown liquid...
No why oh why would bounty hunting be a crime in Mexico? Seems to me Mexico could probably use bounty hunters.
What is to flame?
Go Dog and thank you Trancedo!
The question is - did the guy have a hall pass?
There is a small handful of knee-jerk anti-Tancredo freepers who salivate at the chance to slakm him at any mention. They'll be by shortly, no doubt.
Not to mention that Andrew Luster was a freaking serial rapist! I guess that's not a crime in that toilet we call mexico?
1 for the Dog...
Trancredo had nothing to do with this. Nor did Tancredo.
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