A Closer Look at Duane "Dog" Chapman

Dog the Bounty Hunter is easily recognized by his black leather vest, sunglasses, weathered skin, and teased blond mullet. His capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster made news headlines, though it wasn't as highly publicized as Dog's own subsequent arrest for illegal detention and conspiracy three years later. Here's a look at Duane "Dog" Chapman's personal life and troubled past.

In his teenage years, Chapman was arrested 18 times for armed robbery. He dropped out of school in junior high and at 15 years of age joined a motorcycle gang called the "Devil's Disciples". This is ironic, considering the reason he was nicknamed "Dog". His mother was a minister for the First Assembly of God church and passed her faith onto her son. One of the members of the gang often cursed God, so Chapman prayed for the man and another gang member gave him his nickname- "God" spelled backwards.

In 1976, Dog and another gang member were buying marijuana in Texas when the other gang member shot and killed the drug dealer. At the time, "accessory to murder" charges did not exist in Texas, so Dog was charged with murder and sentenced to five years in prison. He served less than two of those years at Texas State Penitentiary. While there, he served as the warden's barber.

During his stay in prison, Chapman's first wife LaFonda filed for divorce. Upon his release he was ordered to pay back child support which had accumulated while he was incarcerated. Unable to get a job, he became a bounty hunter. Since then, he claims to have made over 6,000 captures.

In the 1980s the bounty hunter met motivational speaker Tony Robbins, who referenced Dog in one of his books. This exposure, combined with his capture of Andrew Luster, led to Chapman's fame and television show.

Dog and his band of bounty hunters use weapons such as bear mace in lieu of guns for two reasons. One is because of his status as a convicted felon it is illegal for him to possess a firearm. The other reason is because of his faith, he doesn't believe in the use of guns.