Duane Chapman

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Duane "Dog" Chapman (left) and wife Beth during their visit aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.
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Duane "Dog" Chapman (left) and wife Beth during their visit aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

Duane Lee "Dog" Chapman (born February 1, 1953) is an American bounty hunter and bail bondsman who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. He stars in Dog The Bounty Hunter, a weekly reality television program which is broadcast on the A&E Network.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Duane Lee Chapman was born to father Wesley Chapman and mother Barbara. Chapman grew up with three younger siblings in Denver, Colorado. Before becoming a bounty hunter, Chapman had frequent scrapes with the law, including 18 arrests for armed robbery. In 1977, Chapman was convicted of murder; he was sentenced to 5 years of hard labor. He attained parole in 1979, and maintains that he is innocent of the original charges, as it was a fellow gang member who actually committed the murder. [1]

[edit] Career

[edit] Perceptions of Chapman

A&E's broadcast of the bail bondsman vocation has promoted Chapman to celebrity status. Some of his colleagues do not approve of Chapman's methods or style. Penny Harding, the executive director of the California Bail Agents Association, said "He represents all of the things that bail agents are trying to get away from - the cowboy image, the renegade, bring 'em home dead or alive."[2] Others in the industry criticized his 2003 crossing of the Mexican border to "kidnap" fugitive Andrew Luster (see below), saying that crossing into foreign countries is not something they condone. One bail agent said that he would not hire someone like Chapman because of concerns over civil liability.

[edit] Andrew Luster

On June 18, 2003, Chapman made news with his hunt and capture of Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster, who at the time was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Luster had fled the United States in the middle of his trial for poisoning and rape, and was convicted in absentia on 86 counts including multiple rape charges connected to assaults in 1996, 1997 and 2000. [3]

Chapman was assisted by his "hunt team", consisting of Tim Chapman and Duane's son Leland. The team was ordered by Mexican authorities to transfer Luster over to the Mexican police. When the hunt team refused they were arrested for kidnapping and unlawful detainment. On July 3, 2003, they were officially declared fugitives by a spokesman for the Mexican Government, after failing to report to the Mexican courts as ordered.

[edit] 2006 arrest & extradition proceedings

On September 14, 2006, just days prior to the statute of limitations, Chapman, along with his son Leland Chapman and associate Tim Chapman, were arrested by United States Marshals and jailed in Honolulu on behalf of the Mexican government.[4] All three are charged with felony restraint involving the 2003 kidnapping of Andrew Luster. Bounty hunting is a crime under Mexican law, and they each face up to four years in Mexican prison if they are convicted.[citation needed]  After spending one night in the federal detention center, Chapman told reporters: "The federal marshals treated us with great respect. But let me tell you, you never want to go to a federal prison, because it's terrible." [5]

On September 15, 2006, Chapman appeared in a packed Honolulu courtroom, his ankles in shackles.[4] Although the magistrate agreed that the men were not a flight risk, he ordered that they each wear an electronic monitoring device around their ankle.[5]  The three men were released on bail ($300,000 for Duane Chapman, $100,000 each for Leland Chapman and Tim Chapman).[6]

Beth Chapman was detained and had a hearing after she was caught wearing an A&E body microphone when entering the courthouse for their bond hearing; electronic recording devices are prohibited by law from being carried into federal courthouses[7]. She was released after claiming that the microphone, unbeknownst to her, was lost in her cleavage; the judge (after speaking to the A&E crew) was satisfied that no recording was done.[8][9]

As of September 2006, Chapman is currently fighting extradition. His lead attorney Brook Hart will argue that although the charge Chapman faces is a felony in Mexico, it may be only a misdemeanor under American law[6]. An extradition hearing has been set for November 16, 2006, where both sides will present evidence and witnesses.[6] Chapman has speculated that his arrest was due in part to a possible prisoner exchange agreement between the Mexican and American authorities. According to Chapman, the federal agents 'sold him out', by trading him in for a convicted Mexican drug lord[10].

On October 11, 2006, news reports surfaced of an open letter dated September 26, 2006, sent on Chapman's behalf by 29 Republican Congressmen to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The letter stated the authors' opposition to Chapman's extradition and requested that Rice deny Mexico's request for the same.[11] No evidence exists as to whether or not the vast majority of Congressmen, who have not commented on this matter, are oppossed to Duane Chapman's extradition or not.

On October 20, 2006, lawyers for Chapman said that the Mexican federal court has granted them an order that halts the criminal case against the bounty hunter until further evidence and witness testimony are gathered.[12]

[edit] Family

Chapman has been married five times. He has several children and grandchildren.

  • Oldest son Christopher Chapman was born c. 1969. Chapman was not married to the mother. Christopher was put up for adoption.
  • Chapman married La Fonda Sue Honeycutt April 1, 1972 in Texas.[13] Their marriage ended in divorce while he was in prison in 1977. They had two children.
  • Duane Lee Chapman II was born January 21, 1973.  He is a financial and retirement counselor as well as bounty hunter.  He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife and four children: Jodi, Jasmine, Jennifer and Dylan.[13]
  • Leland Chapman was born December 14, 1976 in Groom, Texas.  He works with his father as a bounty hunter, and he trains in mixed martial arts.  He has two sons.[13]  Dakota was born March 24, 1995.  Cobie was born December 7, 2000.
  • Chapman married Anne M. Tegnell August 22, 1979 in Colorado.[13] This marriage also ended in divorce.  They had two children, one who died as an infant.
  • Zebediah Duane Chapman was born prematurely on January 1, 1980 in University, Colorado.[13]  He died on January 31, 1980 at home.
  • Wesley Chapman, born c.1980/1981
  • Barbara-Katie "B.K." Chapman was born in Denver, Colorado. She died at age 23 on May 19, 2006 in Fairbanks, Alaska in a high speed car accident involving drugs. She had been in and out of drug rehab and reportedly used money her father gave her to buy cocaine on a regular basis.[14][15] Barbara was survived by her son, Travis Drake-Lee Chapman, born c. 2002.
  • Tucker Chapman was serving a 20-year prison term on a drug charge in 2002. He was released 2006, and now works with his Dad & Brothers at Da kine.
  • "Baby" Lyssa Chapman, born c. 1988, currently works on the Dog the Bounty Hunter show. She has one daughter: Abbie Mae Chapman.
  • Chapman also married a woman named Tawny Marie.[13] This marriage also ended in divorce.

Chapman has two other children , James and Nicholas.

  • Chapman married his fifth wife Beth Smith (DOB 10-29-1967) (aka Alice Barmore,[16][17][18][19] aka Alice Elizabeth Smith),[13] [14] on May 20, 2006 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii. They have two children together. She was previously married to Keith A. Barmore in Denver on 8/26/1991. [13]
  • Cecily Barmore is Chapman's step-daughter, Beth's child by Keith Barmore.
  • Bonnie Jo Chapman.
  • Garry Chapman.
Eric Cartman dressed as Chapman on South Park
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Eric Cartman dressed as Chapman on South Park

[edit] Trivia

  • In the episode "It's Good to Be Home" Chapman claims that he is only 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) and his cowboy boots raise his stature to 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m).
  • The producers of the movie A Date with Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster did a spoof of Dog and his boys catching Luster.
  • Chapman has said that, if given permission from the United States government, he would attempt to collect a bounty on Osama bin Laden.[citation needed]
  • On 09/29/06 Chapman received permission to have the electronic monitoring device removed temporarily so that he could travel to the East Coast for previously planned appearances. [20]
  • In the episode "Sons and Daughters", Beth claims that she has four daughters, when in fact she has two daughters and two sons, Domenic and 'Gary-Boy'.
  • Because he is a convicted felon, Duane Chapman is not legally allowed to posses a firearm in the United States.
  • According to the U.S. Public Records he has lived in Hawaii and Colorado.[citation needed]
  • Is of Native American ancestry

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ryan, Tim. "Puppy Love - The high-profile bounty hunter and his fiancée are planning a wedding in May", Star Bulletin, 2005-11-27. Retrieved on 2006-09-24. (in English)
  2. ^ Jablon, Robert. "Bounty Hunters Assail Duane 'Dog' Chapman", Associated Press, 2003-06-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  3. ^ The trial must go on: Conviction in absentia, Court TV news, Updated June 18, 2003, 7:16 p.m. ET
  4. ^ a b "Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman arrested", Associated Press, 2006-09-14. Retrieved on 2006-09-14.
  5. ^ a b "Duane 'Dog' Chapman faces electric cuff after being collared", Boston Herald, 2006-09-18. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
  6. ^ a b c Pereira, Andrew. "Duane", KHON-TV, 2006-09-15. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
  7. ^ Cosby, Rita. "Free The Dog", MSNBC, 2006-09-15. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
  8. ^ Kobayashi, Ken, Lum, Curtis. "'Dog' freed on bail, says he'll be cleared", Honolulu Advertiser, 2006-09-16. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
  9. ^ "Judge Unleashes 'Dog' On Bail", The Hawaii Channel, 2006-09-15. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
  10. ^ "Duane 'Dog' Chapman Says Feds Sold Him Out to Mexico in Exchange for Drug Lord Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix", Fox News, 2006-09-16. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
  11. ^ "Congressmen ask Rice to keep 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' in U.S.", WBIR, 2006-09-16. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
  12. ^ "TV bounty hunter Duane 'Dog' Chapman grabs a legal victory in Mexico", MSN, 2006-10-20. Retrieved on [[2006-10-20]].
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i Duane Chapman and Beth Smith Marriage Profile. About.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  14. ^ a b "Daughter of TV Bounty Hunter 'Dog' Dies  ", Associated Press, 2006-05-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  15. ^ Barbara Katie "B. K." Chapman. Find A Grave. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  16. ^ Moon, C.J (2005-03-30). "Chapman v. Schmidt". Supreme Court of Hawaii. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
  17. ^ Accola, John, Peggy Lowe. "Suicide Pact Ends Bernstein Brothers' Scheming Ways 'Consummate Con Men' Bilked Investors, Banks, Died Together in a Jaguar", Rocky Mountain News, 2000-07-10. Retrieved on 2006-09-19. (in English)
  18. ^ Bernardo, Rosemarie. "Bail rules keep prison doors locked behind those arrested on weekends", Star Bulletin, 2001-09-03. Retrieved on 2006-09-19. (in English)
  19. ^ Witcher, T.. "Bondage and Domination", Westword, 1998-04-02. Retrieved on 2006-09-19. (in English)
  20. ^ 'Dog' Chapman released from ankle bracelet, USATODAY, 9/29/2006 9:43am ET

[edit] External links

[edit] Official sites

[edit] Government sites

[edit] News articles

[edit] Television links

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