A quick look at something that isn't quite as political as most of what I have been writing about, but it did catch my attention.
LATEST: TV bounty hunter DUANE 'DOG' CHAPMAN is hoping to avoid extradition to Mexico by working out a deal with authorities, his lawyer says. Chapman and his DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER co-stars, who were arrested and jailed in Hawaii, face charges of illegal detention and conspiracy following their capture of cosmetics company heir ANDREW LUSTER - a convicted rapist - three years ago.
Chapman's attorney BROOK HART claims his client is willing to offer an apology and pay a fine to forfeit the bail he posted in Mexico, where bounty hunting is illegal. Hart says, "What he's prepared to do is take responsibility for not having to stay around to face the charge." The US Attorney's office must file their extradition report by 16 October (06). Chapman and his partners caught the Max Factor heir, on 18 June 2003, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but were also arrested by Mexican authorities.
Now, lets look at this for a minute, Andrew Luster, a man who gave three women GHB, a known date rape drug, and raped them while they were unconscious. Luster was brought to trial in 2002. Soon afterward, police officers found videotapes of Luster raping the women in question, including one tape labeled "Shauna GHBing." On January 3, 2003, after one of the victims had testified, but before the jury viewed the "Shauna" tape, Luster vanished from his house, along with his dog and his truck. Luster was later convicted and sentenced in absentia to 124 years in prison by a California court. The California Court of Appeal refused the appeal his attorneys filed on his behalf, ruling that as a fugitive from justice, Luster had forfeited his right to appeal. The California Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court later refused to disturb this ruling.
Luster found his way to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where he lived under an assumed name (David Carrera), surfing and partying. He was taken into custody by then-unknown bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman, his son Leland Chapman, a local associate, and two TV crewmen, in a noisy scuffle on June 18, 2003. Originally captured by the bounty hunter, Luster was taken into custody by Mexican authorities who then charged the bounty hunter with kidnapping. A search of Luster's room revealed more GHB as well as plans to rebuild his fortune and unspecified plans for "payback" against many of the participants in his trial. The next day, Luster was returned to the U.S., and was imprisoned.
He has been sentenced to 124 years in prison.
Now, I am not commenting on the television show, nor the family, and whether one likes or dislikes the "Dog" or anything personal, but is it exactly a bad thing that Andrew Luster was caught and put behind bars? Should Duane "Dog" Chapman, his son Leland and their associate Tim Chapman (no relation) be punished for this?
I know some bleeding hearts will say, "well he broke Mexico's Law" and that is true, but is everything black and white, or are there times when rules should be bent or broken for the greater good?
Personally,I say, good riddance to bad rubbish (Luster) and Thank You Dog!!!!!
If you are interested in this story and helping Dog and Family click here.