'Dog' Chapman loses move to block extradition to Mexico

[steelerbabe]

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/ ... /1001/NEWS

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — A federal court has cleared the way for TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman to be extradited to face charges in Mexico, court officials said today.

Norma Jara, a spokeswoman for the Second District court in Guadalajara, said the court rejected Chapman's injunction request, ruling there was no reason not to try him for deprivation of liberty.

Chapman's lawyers argued he would not be guaranteed a fair trial in Mexico, Jara said.

"This is not a matter that is a great surprise. We intend to file an appeal," Chapman's lawyer, Brook Hart, said last night.

Hart said he had not received official word of the court ruling.

The charges against the 53-year-old star of the A&E reality series "Dog the Bounty Hunter" stem from his June 2003 capture of convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir, in Puerto Vallarta, 210 miles west of Guadalajara.

Luster had fled from California six months earlier. His disappearance set off an international manhunt by police, FBI and bounty hunters trying to recoup some of the bond money.

Luster's capture shot Chapman, a Honolulu-based bounty hunter, to fame and led to the TV series. Luster is now serving a 124-year prison term in California.

OUT ON BAIL

Chapman, his son Leland Chapman and associate Tim Chapman (no relation) were arrested by Mexican authorities the morning after they had caught Luster.

The three posted bail, then later left Mexico. Last September, they were arrested in Honolulu and held overnight at the Federal Detention Center before they were released on bail. "Dog" Chapman was released on $300,000 bond and the other two on $100,000 bond each.

They face up to four years in a Mexican jail if convicted.

"We only just heard about the Mexican court's decision to continue with the extradition proceedings, and are still in shock," Mona Wood, a Chapman spokeswoman, said in a statement.

"We are obviously deeply disappointed and fearful of what will happen, and are currently absorbing the news and discussing our options at this time.

"Duane, (his wife) Beth, Tim and Leland are currently talking with their families and their attorneys. ... However, they still need some time to absorb this shocking and devastating news."

The arrests sparked a nationwide protest by supporters trying to halt the extradition of the popular TV celebrity and the two other men.

The Chapmans' attorneys also said they were providing the Mexican court with evidence that the three had not been trying to leave Mexico with Luster, but were headed to a Mexican police station to turn him in when they got arrested.

APOLOGY OFFERED

Hart has said Chapman thought he could legally arrest Luster there because Luster had violated Mexican law by entering the country under a false name. In addition, Chapman and the two others were with a man they believed was an on-duty Mexican police officer when they caught Luster, and they later left the country on the "faulty" advice of a Mexican lawyer who told them they could leave, Hart said.

Chapman offered to apologize for leaving Mexico to avoid being sent back there, Hart has said.

In addition to the apology, a resolution might also include Chapman paying a fine, forfeiting the bail he posted in Mexico and making a charitable contribution, Hart said.

"What we hope to do is approach Mexican authorities with an apology for having left the country and (make) an effort to resolve any concerns that can be done short of formal extradition and prosecution," Hart said.

But Hart said Chapman will not apologize for apprehending Luster.

Hart also said last year that they will ask the federal government to reconsider honoring the Mexican government's request for the return of the three men because "we have strong arguments that extradition is probably wrong here."

He said that what the Chapmans did in catching Luster would be legal if it had been done in the United States.

[GREGAGREATAMERICAN]

This is one place Mr. Bush needs to step in and say no.

Its not like he doesnt have the time to just pick of the phone and say "NO"

You cant have Dog he's one of the good guys.
Mexico harbors American crininals and send us theres WHAT THE HECK its time we stop this or get somebody in the white house today that can.

Will traval a billion miles to firght a country, will spend money to help other countries, but ill be God Beeeep if we can stop any problem, the real problems On our own soil

[Beckyal]

First and foremost, "Dog" should not extradiated. He has done nothing that is consider wrong in the US. Extradiation is only done when the crime is a crime in both countries. Bush must be receiving extra drugs for this injustice. Mexico is showing that they run our government more and more.

[steelerbabe]

I know that Tom Tancrado's office as well as other members of congress were behind Dog and working to help. The sad thing is if he is extradicted, he will be killed in jail over there

[Beckyal]

America's white house belongs to Mexico. There no longer can be any question that our president and his crowd is obeying the directions of their bosses in Mexico.

[GREGAGREATAMERICAN]

I know that Tom Tancrado's office as well as other members of congress were behind Dog and working to help. The sad thing is if he is extradicted, he will be killed in jail over there

He is a father for Christ sake, hes one of the best fugitive hunters in the world He has more love for God in his hart and God in his life then most people father.
When i met dog he was glad to see my family was doing well and belive me he will pray for your family if you ask him . Bush needs to take five off his war and make the call. This should be one of the focus campains that we do! Post Hast

[ALIPAC]

We need to get this on the homepage. We thought Dog Chapman and his family were in the clear. I guess we were wrong on that call.

Topic section for Dog
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=50

W

[redbadger]

America's white house belongs to Mexico. There no longer can be any question that our president and his crowd is obeying the directions of their bosses in Mexico.

[Neese]

This is such a joke. Mexico has countless criminals in their own country, free for the taking, and they have to arrest a bounty hunter? This is as crazy as the Ramos & Compean case.

[LegalUSCitizen]

Beckyal's

America's white house belongs to Mexico. There no longer can be any question that our president and his crowd is obeying the directions of their bosses in Mexico.

It sure seems that way more and more as each day goes by. This is pathetic and the way he ignores the American people's concerns over all of this is very.......well, when it comes down to this he is acting very much like a dictator. If not a dictator than he is acting like someone who is a hostage of the Mexican government. We cannot get him to answer our questions or to address our concerns.....AT ALL.

Anytime a reporter brings any of this up, all he does is to repeat that cop out and sickening line of his that we "cannot secure the borders without a guest worker program". He's not answering anything.

I just wish the reporters would hit him, unexpectedly and all at once with unrelenting questions at a news conference and really expose what a tangled web he seems to be caught up in with the Mexico.

The time has come when somebody needs to crack Bordergate wide open. What are they afraid of??!

As soon as they ask him about Agents Ramos and Compean, or the borders or illegal immigration, he gives them "the line", then they say, "Thank you Mr. President" and sit down. What kind of reporting is that? They should all be fired from their jobs for not doing their jobs.