Bail Blotter: Bondsmen Meet to Discuss Fee Increases
- June 25, 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.
North Carolina Bill Stirs Up Controversy Among Bondsmen and the Public
RALEIGH, NC – Senate Bill 756 is working its way through the General Assembly in North Carolina and is also sparking quite a bit of controversy. The bill limits access to the pretrial release program and requires candidates for the program to sit in jail for at least 48 hours before they can apply for the pretrial release program. North Carolina bondsmen support the bill, saying that pretrial release programs are publicly funded and cost taxpayers money while also not adequately keeping defendants under surveillance and not doing enough to ensure that defendants appear in court. Those opposed to the bill allege that the bill is intended simply to ensure bondsmen make more money.
To read the full article, click here.
Bond Company Suspended After Improper Referrals Investigation
VICKSBURG, MS – An unnamed Mississippi bail bond company in Vicksburg has had its bonding privileges revoked. The company is allegedly linked to the investigation that caused police officers L'Jamarro Peters and Shawn White to resign after they were accused of making unethical referrals to a bail bond company.
To read the full article, click here.
Bondsman Accused of Impersonating Police Officer
HENDERSON, NV – Adam Brooks, a Nevada bondsman who once was a police officer, has been charged with impersonating an officer. When pulled over in March, Brooks told police that he was a retired police officer and showed a badge showing that was the case. However, further investigation showed that Brooks does not qualify for the badge or for designation as a retired police officer. In addition, Brooks has been accused of identifying himself as a police officer to McDonald’s employees in 2011 while pursuing a suspect.
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Bondsmen Meet to Discuss Fee Changes
ANNISTON, AL – Bondsmen met with circuit clerk Ted Hooks to discuss the new bail bond fees and new court fees that the county is rolling out this week. The changes require Alabama bondsmen to pay an additional $35 per bail bond, which bondsmen say will make bond more expensive for already cash-strapped families and may even push some smaller bail bond companies out of business. Bondsmen also hope that Hooks can clarify some issues, such as how the payments will be accepted and who will be collecting them.
To read the full article, click here.
Woman Turns Down Bail Offer
NEW YORK, NY -- Anna Gristina, a soccer mom who has been accused of promoting prostitution, has decided to reject a bail bond offer. One of her attorneys, Peter Gleason, offered to put up his Manhattan apartment as collateral while Gristina’s family tries to find the cash to secure her $250,000 bail. Gristina has pled not guilty to the charges against her. Her bail was originally set at $2 million.
To read the full article, click here.
Further Debate About Bail Bonds Bill
RALEIGH, NC – The North Carolina bill, Senate Bill 756, which would limit access to the state’s pretrial release program, is generating more controversy. North Carolina bondsmen point out that the bill will save the state money, since the pretrial release program is publicly funded. If defendants use bondsmen to secure their bail, no taxpayer dollars are used. Opponents of the bill are calling the bill the “Liberty for Sale bill” and are alleging that the bill will only increase business for bondsmen while making bail more cumbersome and expensive.
To read the full article, click here.
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