Officials Say Connecticut's Bail System in Need of Major Reforms

BRIDGEPORT -- Connecticut's bail bond system is out of control.

More than 17,000 accused felons in Connecticut have skipped out on their bail bonds. Rules that require bondsmen to collect a certain percentage of each bail bond are routinely ignored.

The list of dangerous felons who have been released on bail only to kill or harm someone else is like a who's who of criminal defendants in the state.

Selami Ozdemir, of West Haven, was bonded out on a Saturday in January and shot his wife to death the next day.

Darryl Crenshaw was bonded out while awaiting trial on kidnapping charges and then beat his girlfriend to death in July 2008.

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Houma Bail Bondsman and Wrestler Earns Spot in Louisana Hall of Fame

HOUMA — When Chad “Bronco Bob” Bonvillain of Houma was inducted into the newly established Louisiana Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame on Oct. 16, he said his emotions bubbled over inside the Amelia Recreation Center.

“I'm the first individual wrestler to be named to it,” the 38-year-old said. “They're going to start putting guys in it on a regular basis, and it should be a great thing in terms of getting some local guys in the sport recognized.”

The 6-foot-7, 400-pound bail bondsman and bounty hunter spent much of the past 17 years pursuing wrestling as a full-time career but recently shifted to part-time. Bonvillain has shared the ring with greats like the Junkyard Dog and Buff Bagwell, among others.

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Prop. 102 Would Force Defendants to Pay to Remain Free Before Trial

Colorado voters will decide this November whether to pass a proposal into law that would result in more criminal defendants having to put up cash to secure their pretrial release from jail.

Supporters say Proposition 102 will ensure defendants will be more likely to show up for court dates because their own money or their family's money will be at stake.

"They will have skin in the game, so to speak," said Mike Paul Donovan, a Douglas County resident who is pushing the proposal, and is a lobbyist for Seneca Insurance, which has a bail-bond division.

But a coalition of law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense lawyers is urging voters to defeat the proposal.

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St. Louis Bail Bondsman Shot in Robbery Attempt

ST. LOUIS (KMOX)__ A St. Louis bail bondsman is in critical condition after being shot during a robbery Saturday night.

Police say the 52-year-old victim was struck in the chest, back and side shortly before eight p.m. at his home in the 700 block of Carr.

The bondsman fired back but police don’t know if either suspect was hit. The victim’s name has not been released.

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Police: Bail Bondsman Seen Buying Heroin

NEW BRITAIN - A Newington bail bondsman was arrested on a drug charge Monday after he allegedly bought heroin from a dealer Special Service Unit members had under surveillance, police said.

Stephen Angelillo, 37, of 84 Dowd St., Newington was tailed and stopped by officers after the transaction took place Monday on Trinity Street in New Britain. Police were originally watching Mitchell Lurry who would meet customers on Trinity Street so they wouldn’t know his actual address when they saw Angelillo show up to make a buy, Sgt. Jerry Chrostowski said.

Angelillo had 13 packets of heroin with him when his car was pulled over, police said. He was charged with possession of narcotics and released on bond. Lurry was found with more than $10,000 in heroin and $29,000 in cash after unit members searched his home and car Monday.


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Bail Bondsman Hit with Bank's Door in Des Moines

A wanted man got the better of a bail bondsman by smashing his hand in a revolving door and taking off on foot Friday. Police later caught up to the suspect at the bus station.

Lonnie Fentress of Iowa Bail Bonds picked up Garrett J. Jesmer, 18, at the Polk County Jail so he could post bond. Fentress drove Jesmer to the Wells Fargo Bank at 666 Walnut St. to withdraw $8,300 for his bond, police said.

Fentress removed Jesmer's handcuffs as a courtesy and to avoid causing alarm among bank patrons, police said.

Fentress, 46, told police Jesmer turned and used the bank's revolving door as a weapon by slamming it backwards onto Fentress' hand, then taking off on foot.


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Duane 'Dog' Chapman Rushed to Hospital in Los Angeles on Saturday After Blood Clot Scare: Report

It was a dog day afternoon for Duane Chapman on Saturday.

The "Dog the Bounty Hunter" star was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center after sustaining an injury while on a bounty hunt, his wife told TMZ.com.

Chapman felt pain and was sent to the ER "to avoid possible serious complications," according to RadarOnline.com.

His wife, Beth Smith, told TMZ.com that Chapman was treated for internal bleeding and tested for a possible blood clot.

"Duane is in very capable hands and and we thank everyone for their prayers,"she wrote in a statement on the 57-year-old reality star's official website.

He was released the same day following a thorough check-up.

"Yes dog is injured it is an occupational hazard that we deal with he is very strong and in excellent condition he will 4 sure survive," his wife tweeted on Sunday.

"Dog the Bounty Hunter" premieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. on A&E.

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Bondsman Makes it his Mission to Catch One Particular Bail Jumper

CLEARWATER — If you watch the Tampa Bay Rays on television, you've probably seen him. Bald head. Olive skin. Downcast eyes. Wanted for beating up a woman, among other dirty deeds.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is looking for Brian Andrew Word, but perhaps not nearly as intensely as Al Estes Bail Bonds Inc. It's spending $1,400 a month on TV ads featuring Word during all Rays games and offering $7,500 for information leading to his arrest.

"He's a menace to society," said Al Estes Sr. He's dangerous, Estes said, especially to women. Still, he's not the worst the bail bondsman has run across.

So why is he so focused on this guy?

There's the money. Estes stands to lose nearly $100,000 if Word doesn't turn up, though it wouldn't be the first time he's lost money on a bail jumper.

He tells every customer who comes through his office: You might make mistakes, you might be addicted or dishonest, but you don't ignore your court date.

Don't make him come after you. Because he will.

"We're going to get him," said Estes, 77 years old and not afraid of a slick, 6-foot, 41-year-old "good-looking party guy" who apparently took the old man for a fool.

One day in October 2009, a lawyer called Estes' office seeking help for Word, arrested on charges of battery by strangulation, residential burglary and other charges connected to a dispute with Word's former girlfriend. It wasn't Word's first battery arrest.

Estes agreed to bail out Word if someone would vouch for him. Soon, Word's mother, Milene Johnson, showed up. Estes has good luck when mothers get involved. People rarely skip town and leave their mothers to deal with bail bondsmen.

The longer Word is a fugitive, the more Estes Sr. stands to lose. Estes had to pay almost $100,000 to the court since Word missed a February court date, but if he catches Word within two years, he'll get at least half of the amount back. After two years, Estes gets nothing.

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