Dog the Bounty Hunter: American Hero or International Criminal?
This arrest has seemed to put some Americans at a moral dilemma when it comes to issues of justice vs. character. Although felony kidnapping is a pretty serious charge, Dog and his team (to include his wife, Beth, two sons and a longstanding business partner) routinely seek out the bad guys and bring them to justice. Will justice find him guilty and forever cement Duane Chapman as an international criminal, or will he be found innocent and continue on arresting criminals? Let’s examine the facts and see if we can decide before the gavel comes down.
Duane: The Hero
For those of you who watch his show, Dog: The Bounty Hunter on A&E, you know that Dog routinely seeks out bail jumpers of all types. He’s caught people that have skipped court appearances for numerous traffic violations; he’s also caught drug dealers, wife beaters, pedophiles, and rapists. Dog and his Hawaii-based company, Da Kine Bail Bonds, have captured over 6,000 fugitives in the last 12 years. This does America a good service because it costs nothing to the taxpayer. No one has to fund their local government with enough money to pay and train more cops to put out on the street in search of these fugitives. The bounty hunter/bail bondsman business regularly captures 30,000 to 40,000 criminals a year.Ã?Â?
Not only is Dog (who nicknamed himself that based on “God” spelled backwards) a master of the criminal mind, regular watchers of his show also see him constantly counseling and providing advice to each fugitive. “Once you take someone down,” Chapman says, “you have to bring them back up higher than they were before.” A lot of times Chapman and his company will reduce the bond fees of the criminals, let them speak to their children before they get arrested, or try to talk the judge into lowering their jail time in order to help get their lives in order.Ã?Â?
Dog, 53 years old, frequently spends time with his large family. His two eldest sons, Duane, Jr., and Leland, are employed with the company. Beth, his “new” bride, has been by his side for most of his career. Although they were married in May, both have been common-law partners for 16 years. Dog also has 10 other children among 4 marraiges. Sadly, his oldest daughter, Barbara, died the night before their wedding.
Duane: The Criminal
Life hasn’t always been fame and fortune for Dog. Raised in an abusive home, Duane Chapman often acted out on his family frustrations. While being raised in Texas, Duane was arrested over 18 times for robbery. He even did 5 years of hard labor in Texas for being an associate in a gang-related murder. He was a member of a motorcycle group called the Devil’s Disciples. One gang member murdered another man and Dog was charged as an accessory to 1st degree murder. “Although I did not commit the crime I was in here for”, Chapman says,” I felt each brick on the wall…stood for something I did do wrong and didn’t get caught for.”Ã?Â?
From that point on he turned his life around, but this recent arrest puts him in the same boat as some of those he’s caught over the years. In 2003, Duane and two members of his company ventured into Mexico after a wanted criminal. Andrew Luster, the heir of the Max Factor Company, was being charged with serial rape He had been convicted in absentia of raping three women and was sentenced to 124 years in prison, but fled… Dog followed his trail to Puerto Vallarta and eventually took him back over the border. However, bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico and Dog was arrested. The Mexican government originally wanted Luster turned over to them, but Dog refused. He posted bail in 2003 but never returned to Mexico for trial.
Although Duane “Dog” Chapman will have the support of his many fans and bounty hunters alike, he may not get the support of the American government since US Marshals are the ones who arrested him for extradition to Mexico to stand trial. Beth Chapman said, “…if Duane has to return to Mexico to clear up any misunderstanding, that’s what we’ll do.” Will America support the side of international justice, or will they support the side of a man who’s used his second chance in life to right his past wrongs?
