Charges Dropped: Bounty Hunter Duane 'Dog' Chapman Discusses His Legal Ordeal with Mexico
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This is a rush transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," August 6, 2007. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
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SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: Duane "Dog" Chapman spent the first 23 years of his life on the wrong side of the law. And it was a murder conviction that sent him running to fight crime and not commit it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Just recently, the Mexican government came after him for apprehending a serial rapist in Mexico and charges against him now have since been dropped.
Joining us now, Dwayne "Dog" Chapman, his wife, Beth, and their attorney, Eduardo Amerena. And Dog has a new book out by the way. "You Can Run, But You Can't Hide".
You're pretty gutsy. You — you guys are gutsy. You know, going after a lot of these bad guys.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DUANE "DOG" CHAPMAN, BOUNTY HUNTER: Well, she is. I just follow her around.
COLMES: Tell us — tell us the story, explain it in a little bit more detail, what I just tried to explain to people, about your life and how you got into this business.
D. CHAPMAN: Well, I was — went to prison in the early or the late '70s. And I went through a prison — back then, you made little rocks out of big rocks. I was in a chain gang. I was there 18 months.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}I realized that this is not for me. This is it. So I think subconsciously the furthest...
COLMES: What were in prison for?
D. CHAPMAN: I was in prison for a charge in Texas, murder one. Back in the '70s in Texas, I was there. I heard the shot. I was in the car.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COLMES: Right.
D. CHAPMAN: The crime happened in the house. But back then, you didn't have the "accessory" before or during or after the fact.
COLMES: Right.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}D. CHAPMAN: So if you stole a candy bar and you were with this guy, you're going to jail along with him.
COLMES: But it's not — you didn't commit the murder. You just knew about it and were there?
D. CHAPMAN: Sean, I was there, heard the shot, knew something had happened. I should have called the police on the spot. Being in a motorcycle gang, I don't think I should have. I mean, I should have now, but back then, if I would have...
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COLMES: Right.
D. CHAPMAN: So I went to Huntsville Penitentiary for five years. I did 18 months in prison.
While I was in prison, I became the warden's barber, so that means all the guards were my friends. One guy went to break and run one day, an inmate, and I jumped him and just — the guard were going to shoot him in the back.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}And as the guard walked up when I was on top of the inmate apprehending him, and he threw down the handcuffs and said, "Hook him up, bounty hunter."
COLMES: And that was it?
D. CHAPMAN: That is what started the career of — yes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COLMES: Because you do this work now. I want you to explain the case, what happened in Mexico. And I know you want your lawyer here for a specific reason. But you know, you apprehend this rapist. They're furious with you. They want you guys in jail and you ended up — this got resolved properly through a lot of work of your attorney.
EDUARDO AMERENA, LAWYER: Yes, well, basically, in the first stage of the case when Duane and and Timothy and Lilian made bail, there was not an interpreter present, telling them their obligations for the court. So they left Mexico, but were not, for one day, in hiding. They went home.
ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: Is this case over now, basically? Or do you still have a ways to go? I was thinking, the prosecution is appealing this.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}AMERENA: There was a ruling on July 27. The statute of limitations ran out on the case and yes, it was appealed, but the ruling has been executed. And there has been a written directive to the attorney general from the police who controls the police and the...
COLMES: So Beth you think you're out of the woods? Right? You think you're...
AMERENA: This is the best...
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}BETH CHAPMAN, WIFE OF DUAYNE "DOG" CHAPMAN: The ruling says absolute liberty to the Chapmans.
AMERENA: There is an absolute freedom...
COLMES: Right.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}AMERENA: ... of the Chapmans. And there has been an appeal. The main thing is that the arrest warrant that was issued has been canceled.
COLMES: Got you. And that's the main part. Wait, isn't — Dog, isn't — Dog, is not bounty hunting illegal in Mexico?
D. CHAPMAN: There is a difference between it in America and Mexico, yes, sir. There is a difference. But to be flat-out illegal, Mexico's 16th amendment talks about it and it's not flat out illegal. It can be done.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}B. CHAPMAN: It's called infligare grande (ph). If someone is — if you see someone committing a crime — if you see someone committing a crime and you know that the person is conducting a crime, you can jump in.
AMERENA: We have the figure of citizens arrest. And Alberto Sinse (ph), who is the head counsel for the Mexican defense and myself, have determined that there is also a figure in which a bail bondsman can't — has the faculties to pursue this.
COLMES: This is a serial rapist. There's no issue in dispute here. You go after some really bad guys.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}AMERENA: And he was no victim.
COLMES: Do you guys ever worry that your personal safety is in jeopardy? Of course. You are a pretty tough guy.
D. CHAPMAN: You know a cop is coming. You don't know I'm coming. You're like, what is he, in a rock band, who is this guy?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COLMES: You know what the shirt's not open enough, the chains...
D. CHAPMAN: [To wife] What are you doing?
COLMES: The don't see you on TV shows...
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}B. CHAPMAN: I am letting them see my name, so they know you're owned. — It's in the book.
COLMES: That's a little more information than I need. Thank you very much.
Anyway, good to see you guys. And all the best and continued success.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}B. CHAPMAN: Thank you very much.
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