Bail Blotter: Call for Regulation of Bounty Hunters

• May 17, 2012
• by AboutBail Staff
• In the News

Each week AboutBail combs the web for the latest and most interesting industry news stories to bring you the Weekly Bail Blotter.

Is Bill Good News or Bad News for Bondsmen?

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – A bill being considered by the Missouri General Assembly would make it a requirement for defendants who were unable to pay their bond in full to either use a bail bondsman or remain in jail. Bondsmen support the bill while some allege that the legislation would make it harder for less prosperous defendants to get out of jail. Under current law, a judge has the discretion to let a defendant pay 10% deposits on a bond that is not affordable. If the defendant fails to appear for a court date, the remainder is due. If the defendant attends all court dates, the money paid for the deposit can be put towards attorney fees, fines, and other costs.

To read the full article, click here.

More Debate About Court Fee Increase

MONTGOMERY, AL – A bill has passed the Alabama House but continues to spark debate. The bill would increase court costs as well as the costs paid by Alabama bondsmen. Supporters of the bill, including sponsor Rep. Mike Hill, say the legislation is needed because the court system has faced so many budget cuts. If passed, the new fee increases could add $40 million for the court system. However, bondsmen say that the cost increases will force them to increase costs for clients and could result in some bondsmen being pushed towards bankruptcy.

To read the full article, click here.

Bail Recovery Agents Arrested

TULSA, OK – Police say that three bounty hunters kicked down the door of a home belonging to a woman in her 70s. The bounty hunters had the wrong address, but the woman whose home was broken into says she was terrified because the three men who pushed their way into her home did not identify themselves. She wants to see tougher regulations in the industry, especially after police told her that two of the bounty hunters (Ronnie Shaw and Cecil Deere) who forced their way into her home had warrants out for their arrests. The two men were later arrested and all three bounty hunters involved in the incident were cited for breaking and entering without permission.

To read the full article, click here.

More Calls for Regulation of Bounty Hunters

TULSA, OK – Bondsmen are responding to the story of a Tulsa woman whose door was kicked in by bounty hunters who were at the wrong address. According to several bondsmen, Title 59 of the Oklahoma state statutes allows bondsmen to apprehend a defendant who has skipped on a court date, but there are no specific rules in Oklahoma regarding bounty hunters. Some Tulsa Oklahoma bondsmen, including Rusty Roberts, have told reporters that they are wary about being associated with bounty hunters because the industry is not regulated in the state. Roberts and others support legislation that would regulate and license bounty hunters in the state. A bill which would do just that is currently working its way through state legislature.

To read the full article, click here. 

Men Arrested in Bakersfield Bondsmen Deaths Face Court

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Stephen Stewart and Zachary Perrick, accused in the series of events that led to the shooting deaths of Bakersfield California bondsmen Zachary and Brandon Sims have appeared in court. Stewart and Perrick faced the court and agreed to have their arraignment continued in misdemeanor court after their felony arraignment. Perrick faces charges of felony drug possession while Stewart is accused of conspiracy, two counts of first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a weapon.

To read the full article, click here. 

Shooting Occurs as Bondsmen Try to Apprehend Suspect

SANFORD, FL –  Two bondsmen were trying to revoke a bond on a man with a warrant when a shooting took place. The Sanford Florida bondsmen pursued the suspect when he ran, but the man struggled and the bondsmen tasered the man multiple times. Despite this, the man leaped into a truck and allegedly fired a shot at the bondsmen, using a handgun he appeared to have in the vehicle. One of the bondsmen returned fire. The vehicle got away and one of the bondsmen suffered a cut to his hand. Police continue to investigate.

To read the full article, click here. 

For more bail news highlights, click here to check out the in-the-news archives.