Dog the Bounty Hunter owes nearly $1M in legal fees stemming from 2003 arrest in Mexico
Dog the Bounty Hunter reportedly owes nearly $1million in unpaid legal fees stemming from his 2003 arrest in Mexico.
The 68-year-old reality star was arrested in Puerto Vallarta nearly two decades ago for capturing fugitive rapist Andrew Luster, a crime in itself as bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico.
While the charges were eventually dropped, Dog got into a disagreement about his lawyer’s fees and eventually sued, only to lose the suit years later with a judgement forcing him to pay $880,916.
Trouble: Dog the Bounty Hunter owes nearly $1million in unpaid legal fees stemming from his 2003 arrest in Mexico; seen in 2015
Chapman was hit with a $880,000 judgement in 2013 in California for failing to pay legal fees, but new documents were filed in his home state of Hawaii, according to TMZ.
It’s unclear which attorney is following through with the suit, but William Bollard represented Dog at the time of the arrest.
Dog — who’s full name is Duane Chapman — faced felony kidnapping charges for capturing the affluent cosmetics heir who was on the run in Mexico after posting $1million bail for multiple charges of drugging and raping three women.
Chapman rose to fame for capturing Luster outside of the Motel Los Angeles after tracking him for days in Puerto Vallarta.
Bad to the bone: Dog The Bounty Hunter focused on the bounty hunting operations at Da’Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu and ran for eight seasons on A&E before it was cancelled in 2012; seen in 2018
Camera crew were on hand when Chapman, his son and his brother subdued the rapist with aerosol spray and handcuffs before local authorities stepped in on the international manhunt.
Prosecutors later charged the three with kidnapping and pleaded with U.S. authorities to arrest the trio and ship them to Puerto Vallarta.
During an interview with Larry King in 2006, Dog defended his decision to bring Luster to justice for his crimes,
‘He said his name was David Correra. And of course I said wait a minute,’ Chapman recalled. ‘This is Andrew Stuart Luster, wanted on 86 counts of rape, got 124 hundred years in prison… of course luster spoke fluent Spanish and was telling the police officers I m not that guy, blah blah blah.’
Dog — who’s full name is Duane Chapman — faced felony kidnapping charges for capturing the affluent cosmetics heir Andrew Luster who was on the run in Mexico after posting $1million bail for multiple charges of drugging and raping three women
Dog’s attorney William Bollard told Larry King: ‘Best case they dismiss, the case goes away. Worst case they have to stay on trial in Puerto Vallarta on a single charge of deprivation of liberty, it carries with it a sentence range from six months to four years.’
In 2007, Dog dodged extradition to Mexico when a judge finally dismissed the case.
Dog The Bounty Hunter focused on the bounty hunting operations at Da’Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu and ran for eight seasons on A&E before it was cancelled in 2012.
Dog & Beth: On the Hunt premiered on CMT in 2013, and Dog’s Most Wanted aired on WGN America in 2019.
Beth, his wife of 13 years, lost her battle with throat cancer and died in Hawaii on June 26,2019.