You can run ... but not forever

NewsHerald.com - Headlines: "Jerry Steele and his wife, Bird, have been getting people out of jail — and occasionally putting them back in — for six years.

As owner and operators of Steele Boys’ Bail Bonds Inc. in Panama City, they, like most bail bond agents in Florida, don’t have a 9-to-5 job.

Bail bonding is an exhausting business occasionally requiring bondsmen to wrestle the people they’ve bonded out of jail back into handcuffs, Jerry Steele said. When he proposed starting the business, his wife was less-than receptive."

Ocean County New Jersey Bail Bond Agent | Bondsman

The AboutBail.com team would like to welcome their newest bail agent | bail bondsman to New Jersey. Anthony (AJ) Dell'Omo of AJ Dell'Omo Bail Bonds has bail agents operating throughout the following counties in New Jersey: Ocean, Middlesex and Monmonth County, NJ

Alachua County California Bail Bond Agent | Bondsman

The AboutBail.com team would like to welcome their newest bail agent | bail bondsman to Florida. Rick Roundtree of Roundtree Bonding Agency has bail agents operating throughout the following counties in Florida: Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion and Putnam

Riverside County California Bail Bond Agent | Bondsman

The AboutBail.com team would like to welcome their newest bail agent | bondsman to California. Dustin Cadotte of 20/20 Bail Bonds has bail agents operating through Riverside County, CA. Please visit their AboutBail.com profile page for contact information as well as additional services.

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 25, 2007

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 25, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory: "With the passing of another spring week, the AboutBail.com staff saw more news stories about possible changes to the bail profession. In Connecticut, in particular, changes to the profession seem imminent, judging by the continued stories about the problems with the business. Stories about illegal immigrants and bail, and more stories about heroic bond professionals who put felons behind bars dominated the headlines in the past week. Our picks for the top industry stories:

Another Story Sure to Fuel the Controversy Over Bail and Illegal Immigration
COLORADO - The AboutBail.com staff have been reporting stories about the growing concern within the bail industry about illegal immigrants who commit crimes in this country. Another story this week only adds to the debate. Despite the efforts of authorities in Denver, an illegal immigrant who identified himself as Manuel Flores was able to post bond and flee the country after being accused of sexually assaulting a nine year-old girl. According to authorities, Flores was arrested February 15 and was unable to provide adequate identification. Although authorities contacted federal immigration officials, no immigration hold was placed on the man. Judge Andrew Armatas set a bond of $35,000..."

Read the entire article below:
Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 25, 2007

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 18, 2007

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 18, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory: "Over the past week, the AboutBail.com staff were spending extra time around the water cooler, catching up on the news stories from the industry. This past week, the stories that caught our attention were:

Experts in CT Continue to Call For Wide-Spread Bail System Reforms
CONNECTICUT - In Connecticut, state prosecutors, bail industry spokesmen, and law enforcement officials urged lawmakers all agree on one thing: the bail system in the state needs to change, since competition in the industry is creating a dangerous scenario, whereby bond companies undercut legal rates. This past Monday, bail bond experts asked lawmakers to make changes to the system, saying that the usual practice requiring defendants to pay 7-10% of the amount of their bail to a bondsman has fallen by the wayside. Many companies now offer bail bonds for only 2-3% of the bail amount, leading judges to set higher bails. State Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, D-East Haven, part of the legislature's Judiciary Committee, has said reforms to the system could be approved as part of Connecticut's budget. The reform would switch regulation of the system to the Department of Public Safety and bondsmen not adhering to state requirements would face criminal penalties and up to two years in prison. (New Haven Register, May 15, 2007)"

Read the entire article by clicking below:
Bail Bonds news Roundup, May 18, 2007

Bond Set For Woman Accused Of Killing N.C. Central Student From Charlotte

Bond Set For Woman Accused Of Killing N.C. Central Student From Charlotte - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte: "A judge set bond at $175,000 Wednesday for the woman accused of killing a North Carolina Central University student in January.

Shannon Elizabeth Crawley, of Greensboro, is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Denita Smith, a graduate student who was found slumped against a stairwell at her Durham apartment complex after the Jan. 4 shooting."

Judge reduces bail for accused Net predator

Judge reduces bail for accused Net predator: "A Honolulu man was ordered to have no contact with minors over the Internet as his bail was reduced from $1 million to $75,000 Wednesday on charges of electronic enticement of a child.

Matthew Goodman, 28, posted a bail bond to be released from the Maui Community Correctional Center after his court hearing, court records show.

He was allowed to return to Oahu and required to live with his mother under bail conditions set by 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August.

He said a bail study recommended a reduction in bail for Goodman."

Hector 'Macho' Camacho Sent to Jail

Hector 'Macho' Camacho Sent to Jail: "Former champ Hector 'Macho' Camacho, 44, was sent to jail after pleading guilty to a burglary charge. Camacho faces up to seven years in prison after admitting to breaking into a Gulfport, Mississippi computer store in Dec. 2004 to 'retrieve his laptop', which was being serviced at the time. Sentencing was delayed but Camacho was ordered straight to jail because a local bail bondsman said he hadn't heard from him in over two years. Camacho also faces drug charges as police allegedly found ecstasy in his hotel room when he was arrested on the burglary charges in Jan. 2005."

Global positioning system replacing jail bars for some inmates

Times-News: Magicvalley.com, Twin Falls, ID: "Raymundo Pena is trotting around Boise rather than sitting in jail.

But he is paying big brother to watch him.

At any given time of day or night, big brother could be Jack Green, his wife or daughter, who have recently begun contracting with the Jerome County court system to shackle defendants and offenders' ankles to a global positioning system. Then they monitor Pena as he moves about Boise, the city that a judge ordered him not to leave.

Even at Green's price of $20 a day, the county saves $10 per day for each inmate it pulls from the Jerome County jail and $25 for each overflow inmate it pulls from other county jails."

La. State Police Charge Bondsman with Theft and Insurance Fraud

La. State Police Charge Bondsman with Theft and Insurance Fraud: "The Louisiana State Police reported that its Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit on April 30, 2007, arrested a bail bondsman in the Rapides Parish area on theft and insurance fraud charges.

Wayne Thomas, 36, McKeithen Drive, Alexandria, was charged with 124 counts of Theft and 108 counts of Failure to Remit Insurance Premiums.

The State Police investigation began in March 2007 after the Louisiana Department of Insurance forwarded a complaint alleging Thomas had written and accepted payment for bonds, but never remitted the payments back to the bail bonding company's home office.

Bail bonding is an act of insurance and is therefore monitored by the Louisiana Department of Insurance."

Bail-bond pros get warning from state

Bail-bond pros get warning from state - News - MSNBC.com: "Lawmakers on Monday heard from state officials and members of Connecticut's troubled bail-bond industry who agreed that the state has to reform the process by which defendants are released from jail pending trial.

Bail-bond professionals warned that since the state Department of Insurance is not enforcing the prices that defendants and their families are charged, the market is turning into a free-for-all.

As a result, large, often out-of-state companies are undercutting smaller firms and forcing judges to gradually raise the price of average bonds to the point where $100,000 isn't unusual anymore."

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 11, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 11, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory: "This past week, the staff at AboutBail.com were reading stories about silly criminals, savvy bondsmen, bounty hunters accused, and legislation. Here were the stories that fired our imaginations this week:

Update: Mexico Frees Americans Held as Bounty Hunters
MEXICO - Last week, the staff at AboutBail.com - not to mention people across the country - were following the story of five Americans accused of acting as bounty hunters in Mexico. The five were arrested in Naco, Sonora, on May 2, because bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico. This week, though, the five men have been released, because a Mexican prosecutor found that there was a lack of evidence. The five -- Raul Arellanes Valdez, Richard Polanco, Richard Polanco Jr., Harold Lewis, and a 13-year old - are all back in the US now. (NogalesInternation.com, May 8, 2007)"

Click here to read the entire article:
Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 11, 2007

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 4, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory

Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 4, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory: "This past week, the staff at AboutBail.com had plenty to discuss. The news media was filled with stories about the bail industry. From another bounty hunting arrest in Mexico to legislation changes, here are the stories that captured our attention:

Bondsman in Louisiana Charged with Theft and Insurance Fraud
TEXAS - A Bondsman in the Rapides Parish region was arrested this past week by members of the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit. The man, Wayne Thomas, was charged with multiple counts of theft and Failure to Remit Insurance Premiums. The investigation leading to the arrest began when allegations were made that Thomas received payment for bonds, but never remitted the money to the bail bonding company. Since bail bonding is considered an act of insurance in Louisiana, the investigation was conducted by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. (Insurance Journal, May 2, 2007)"

Click below to read the entire article:
Bail Bonds News Roundup, May 4, 2007

Will this bail bondsman need a bail bondsman?

islandpacket.com | Will this bail bondsman need a bail bondsman?: "The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is looking for a bail bondsman accused of stealing cash while looking for a fraud client in the wrong house.

The man and his co-worker weren't

licensed bondsmen at the time they went into the home on All Joy Road in greater Bluffton on Jan. 24, sheriff's Capt. Toby McSwain said.

The Sheriff's Office will meet with Beaufort County Clerk of Courts Elizabeth Smith to see if she will prohibit the bonding company that employed the men -- 24/7 Bail Bonding -- from doing business in the county."

Bail bondsman arrested

SunHerald.com : Bail bondsman arrested: "A Gulfport bail bondsman was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated assault and unlawfully possessing a weapon.

Michael Stan Stewart, 46, of Gulfport, was cuffed after police were summoned to the scene of a shooting in the 3000 block of 20th Avenue just after noon, where one man was shot in the leg during a fight, according to a news release from the Gulfport Police Department.

As of late Friday, it was unclear whether Stewart was on the job at the time the shooting occurred."

Gulfport bail bondsman was arrested

The Picayune Item - Gulfport bail bondsman was arrested: "A Gulfport bail bondsman arrested Friday is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Michael Stan Stewart, 46, was detained when police were called to the scene of a shooting, where one man was shot in the leg during a fight, according to a news release from the Gulfport Police Department.

It was unclear whether Stewart was on the job at the time the shooting occurred.

He was taken to the Harrison County jail and Justice Court Judge Melvin Ray set his bond at $30,000."

Mom as bounty hunter cops-out

Mom as bounty hunter cops-out - Newsday.com: "Definitely getting nominated for Series Title of the Year honors: 'Wife, Mom, Bounty Hunter.'

If only the show lived up to that intriguing promise.

Oh, sure, Sandra Scott takes on all three of those roles in WE's new cable reality series shot around her Phoenix-area territory. The blond ex-wrestler has a husband, two kids, and she works as a 'fugitive recovery agent' tracking and apprehending criminal suspects who've skipped bail.

It's just that, in her case, none of those roles seems particularly interesting."

Newest AboutBail.com Members -- March & April 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory

Newest AboutBail.com Members

March 1 - April 30, 2007

The AboutBail.com Team would like to welcome the newest members of our Nationwide Directory of Bail Bond Agents, Criminal Lawyers, Investigators, Immigration Bondsmen, Jails, Courts and more. Below you will find the basic contact information for all of the bail bond agents, criminal lawyers, investigators and immigration bondsmens who joined the AboutBail.com Nationwide Directory between March & April 2007:



ZZZ's Bail Bonds
Contact: Bill Cole
Phone: 888-889-9967
Location: Murrietta, CA 92563
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- ZZZ's Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Statewide in California



All City Bail Bonds
Contact: Troy Hansen
Phone: 206-622-9999
Location: Seattle, WA 98124
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- All City Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Statewide in Washington



Casey's Bail Co.
Contact: John Casey
Phone: 360-871-7915
Location: Port Orchard, WA 98366
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Casey's Bail Co. covers the following areas: Clallam County, WA and Kitsap County, WA



AAA Liberty Bonding Co.
Contact: Dennis McAffee
Phone: 307-382-8111
Location: Rock Springs, WY 82901
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- AAA Liberty Bonding Co. covers the following areas: Sweetwater County, WY



VIP Bail Bonds
Contact: Nakia Woodson
Phone: 702-318-1244
Location: Las Vegas, NV 89180
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- VIP Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Clark County, NV



Tennessee Bail Recovery
Contact: Shawn Blanton
Phone: 615-597-2967
Location: Smithville, TN 37166
Services: Bounty Hunter / Investigator
- Tennessee Bail Recovery covers the following areas: Statewide in Tennessee



Virginia Bail Bonding
Contact: Larry Rodriguez
Phone: 866-293-5631
Location: Stafford, VA 22554
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Virginia Bail Bonding covers the following areas: Statewide in Virginia



McMains Bail Bonds
Contact: Nikki McManis
Phone: 800-798-3403
Location: Oroville, CA 95966
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- McMains Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Butte, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Tehama, Plumas, Glenn, Colusa and Sierra County, CA



Al Estes Bonding Agency Inc
Contact: Eric Estes
Phone: 727-571-9999
Location: Clearwater, FL 33762
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Al Estes Bonding Agency Inc. covers the following areas: Statewide in Florida



Bad Dog Bail Bonds
Contact: Vince Sims
Phone: 661-322-8500
Location: Bakersfield, CA 93301
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Bad Dog Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Fresno, Merced and Kern County, CA



Abet Bail Bonds
Contact: George Rude
Phone: 732-940-8300
Location: North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Abet Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Middlesex County, NJ



American National Bail Bonds
Contact: Sylvester Davis
Phone: 228-832-5506
Location: Gulfport, MS 39503
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- American National Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Hancock and Harrison County, MS



American National Bail Bonds
Contact: Sylvester Davis
Phone: 228-832-5506
Location: Gulfport, MS 39503
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- American National Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Hancock and Harrison County, MS



Aaron M. Rader Bail Bonds
Contact: Aaron Rader
Phone: 317-529-6650
Location: Indianapolis, IN 46204
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Aaron M. Rader Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Marion County, IN



Garcia Bail Bonds
Contact: Jack Garcia
Phone: 602-254-6666
Location: Glendale, AZ 85308
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- Garcia Bail Bonds covers the following areas: Maricopa, Pima, Yavapai and Coconino County, AZ



AAA Bail Professionals of New Jersey
Contact: Brian Petrone
Phone: 732-940-1400
Location: North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Services: Bail Bond Agent
- AAA Bail Professionals of New Jersey covers the following areas: Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Middlesex and Bergen County, NJ




If you are not yet a member of AboutBail.com's Nationwide Directory, please contact Terrence Joyce at (866) 411-2245 ext. 89, or visit Advertise on AboutBail.com - A Directory of Bail Bond Agents, Criminal Lawyers, Immigration Bondsmen and Investigators.