The Trial of Duane "Dog" Chapman the Bounty Hunter

The Bail-Jumping Bail Bondsman

It was June, 2003. Andrew Luster, great-grandson of cosmetics giant Max Factor was running from the law. Charged with sexual assaults of three women in California, Luster had fled the country and ended up in Mexico. He was convicted in absentia of 86 counts, including multiple rape charges. However he had to be caught.

The case was extremely high, and the chase after Luster lasted several months, before it came to an end in the city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. FBI investigators were on the scene, but also there was someone who then was not as famous as he is now: Duane "Dog" Chapman, along with his son Leland and associate (no relation) Tim Chapman.

Chapman had been following the case from the beginning, and had spent five months chasing after Luster. He was tipped off by a couple staying at a resort in Puerto Vallarta and went after the fugitive rapist. The couple, a few hours later, also gave the FBI the same information. However Dog had a head start.

And so Chapman, his son, associate, and two cameramen traveled down to the Zoo Bar, at the intersection of Mexico and Honduras Avenues. There they found Luster hiding out under the alias of David Carrera. Luster was captured and the bounty hunters were taking him back to the airport when something very surprising to them happened. They were stopped by local police and put under arrest.

Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and since Dog was acting under no authority save his own, in the eyes of Mexican law what he was doing was no better than kidnapping. He was placed under arrest and spent the night with his son and associate inside of a Mexican prison cell. The three later posted bail, were let out of prison and fled the country. The bail bondsman had just jumped bail.

Chapman Back in the Doghouse

Flash forward three years. Duane "Dog" Chapman is now the star of a famous television show, "Dog: The Bounty Hunter." He got the show mostly from the fame surrounding his capture of Luster. Chapman had been seeking fame and fortune from the arrest.