Sometimes 'Risky Business'

There was a time when Wayne Johnson did it all as a bail bondsman in Ellensburg.

That included going to the Kittitas County jail at all hours of the day or night to write a bond that would allow someone charged with a crime to be released on bail to Johnson with the sincere promise — backed up with a contract — that he or she will, indeed, appear in court at the appointed time.

Johnson had to size up the defendant quickly and determine what kind of collateral he can write the bond on: what the defendant has to fork over if he or she skips court dates.