Inside the Real World of a Bounty Hunter

WATERLOO – Imagine a job where you could work, at any time during the day or night, convince people to reappear after vanishing and get paid only when you bring them back.

When a bounty hunter tells someone what they do for a living, the images of movies and television, especially Dog The Bounty Hunter, often come to mind. Yet in media, the bounty hunters pull in the people who are missing before the credits roll.

The team of Waterloo-based bounty hunters we followed on May 12th are part private investigators, part gentle interrogator and part sales professional.

“We’ve had guys get beat up, guns pulled on them,” admits David Lederman, owner of Lederman Bail Bonds in Waterloo, located across the street from the Black Hawk County Jail. This is his family’s business and has been since 1965.

Lederman said when a person calls their office to try and arrange for a bond to get released, the process starts. He said most of the bonds they write are for $1,000 or $2,000. The bail bonds company puts up that amount and Lederman collects 10 percent of the amount from a defendant’s co-signor — $100 or $200 for this example.

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TSA Agent on Bail After Stealing Cash

A Transportation Security Administration agent surrendered to authorities on Tuesday and was charged with stealing almost $500 from a wheelchair-bound woman passing through a security checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The TSA has suspended agent Leroy Ray, 44 of Newark, adding yet another incident to a growing list of troubling cases involving agency workers. Officials said 23 TSA agents have been removed or fired since 2007 for stealing items at security checkpoints or from checked baggage.
TSA surveillance cameras caught Ray taking money from a woman's purse after the bag passed through an X-ray machine Feb. 3, according to court documents. Ray allegedly took the bag to another table to search it and removed an envelope containing $300 and then $195 in cash from inside a zipper pocket.

The woman return minutes later to tell agents that she was missing the money. Ray walked into a nearby office when the woman returned to the checkpoint and placed what appeared to be the envelope in a lost and found tray, court documents said.

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Audit shows that Bail bonds were not deposited

Toldeo, Ia. — At least $6,500 paid by accused criminals in Tama County as bail bonds was not deposited, according to a special investigation released by the state auditor Monday.

At least three bond payments between Feb. 23 and June 5 of 2009 were initially received by the Tama County sheriff's office and should have been remitted to the clerk's office for deposit, according to the audit. However, those deposits were not recorded on a receipt log, the audit concluded.

The audit was unable to determine whether the cash payments were received by the clerk and not deposited or whether the sheriff's office did not properly send the payment to the clerk's office.

The report was sent to the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa attorney general's office and the Tama County attorney.

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Judge Cuts Teens Bail After NAACP Protests

A district court judge in Redford Township ordered $25,000 cash bail amounts reduced Tuesday for all but one of 16 teenagers arrested late last month on charges of disturbing the peace near Thurston High School.

The decision by 17th District Judge Karen Khalil came after protesters organized by the NAACP Western Wayne Branch marched outside the court prior to the scheduled hearing with signs reading: "No justice, no peace."

Most of the teens, who are from Inkster, Dearborn Heights and Redford Township, had been held since their arrest on misdemeanor charges April 30. Defense attorney Nabih Ayad, who has called the situation racial profiling because the teens are African American, said the youths were unable to afford the $25,000.

On Tuesday, Khalil reduced bail to amounts ranging from personal recognizance to $500. However, a request to withdraw guilty pleas to disturbing the peace entered earlier by some of the teens was rejected by the judge.

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Man Who Blackmailed Lettermen Arrested

A US television producer has been sentenced to six months in jail for blackmailing the American chat show host David Letterman for his sexual affairs. Robert Halderman was a former CBS employee. He pleaded guilty in March and was given 1,000 hours of community service.

Halderman had demanded $2m from Letterman last year for not exposing sexual relationship he had with female members of the staff. David Letterman has admitted the alleged affairs. He had tried to extort the $2m payment from Letterman after reading about his ex-girlfriend’s diary.

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Grand Jury Indicts N.M. Bounty Hunter

Carlsbad, N.M., bounty hunter Jarrod Neal Flaming, 41, was indicted for murder Thursday.

Flaming, 41, also was indicted by a Hale County grand jury for execution of capias or arrest warrant and unauthorized contract with bail bond surety.

His partner, Morgan E. Moore, 41, also of Carlsbad, was indicted for execution of capias or arrest warrant and unauthorized contract with bail bond surety.

Police said on Feb. 9, 2010, Moore, an employee of Bad Dog Bail Bonds Inc., of which Flaming is president and CEO, knocked on the door of an apartment at Central Apartments, 910 W. 28th, just before 8:30 p.m. and was allowed in by the resident.

When Moore attempted to take 31-year-old Derek Graves into custody, he reportedly jumped out the kitchen window where Flaming was waiting, police said. Graves then fled on 29th Street and into the backyard of a residence at 1111 W. 29th where he was found by officers with one gunshot wound from a 9mm handgun.

Graves, who was living in Amarillo but temporarily staying in Plainview with family, was wanted on a Potter County warrant of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

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Italian Police Arrest Top Mafia Fugitive

Italian police have arrested the head of a powerful Calabrian mafia clan who was listed among the country's 30 most dangerous fugitives.

Giovanni Tegano, on the run since 1993 and believed to be a high-profile member of the feared 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate, was arrested near the southern city of Reggio Calabria late on Monday.

"His capture is the hardest blow that we could inflict today to the 'Ndrangheta as he was the number one Calabrian fugitive," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said.

Highlighting the hurdles authorities face in their fight against the mafia, more than 100 of Tegano's supporters blocked a street outside a police station in Reggio Calabria on Tuesday to cheer the 70-year old as he was escorted by police officers into a waiting car to be driven to prison.

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Bail Denied for Hotel 'Slay' Mom

It's more time in a psych jail for millionaire pharmaceutical exec Gigi Jordan -- who's awaiting trial on murder charges for allegedly feeding her son a fatal dose of RX drugs at the opulent Peninsula Hotel in Midtown.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon this morning denied Jordan's application to be freed to her Upper West Side townhouse on $5 million bail.

"In the Court's opinion, the risk of defendant's flight is extremely high," Solomon wrote, noting that the evidence against Jordan is "overwhelming," that the crime charged is "heinous," and that the prison sentence faced is "considerable."

"Defendant is charged with committing one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, the murder of her own child, an eight-year-old boy who was autistic and aparently incapable of speaking.

"While a person charged with intentional murder is eligible to be released on bail, the nature of the charge is nevertheless a factor for the court to consider," he wrote.

Jordan, 49, appeared shattered by the decision -- her expression set in a stoney frown as she sat in a gray correction uniform at the defense table.

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Actress Heather Locklear Arrested for Hit and Run

Heather Locklear was arrested for hit-and-run last Saturday, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ at around 4 AM, someone heard a crash near North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, CA.

The person who heard the crash didn't call the Ventura County Sheriff's Department until 7:48 PM that night. Deputies went out to the area and found a knocked over "no parking" sign and obvious signs of a car that went up the curb, striking the sign.

Deputies confirmed through investigation that the car in question was Locklear's black BMW. The collision was very close to Locklear's home.

Deputies then went to Locklear's home, saw damage to the BMW that was consistent with the collision, and arrested her for hit-and-run.

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Proposed law could increase bondsman revenue

LEE COUNTY: A program that could save you money and cut overcrowding in jails is in jeopardy. The program is called Pretrial Release. It allows non-violent offenders to stay out of jail while waiting for their court dates. And one group stands to gain greatly if the program goes away.

Each inmate processed, finger-printed, and fed at Lee County's Detention Center costs taxpayers $82 a day. That's nearly $5-million a month to care for about 2,000 inmates.           

Court administrators say a program called Pretrial Release prevents that cost from increasing.

"It does have that great benefit to it. If you're finding people who are safe to be out of the jail, who meet the criteria set forth, it works out very well in terms of saving money," says Sheila Mann, spokeswoman with the 20th Judicial Circuit.

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Danny Glover Arrested at Demo Against France's Sodexo

US actor Danny Glover and 11 others were arrested Friday at a protest outside the US headquarters of French company Sodexo, which workers accuse of union-bashing and poor working conditions.

Glover was taken away in handcuffs along with the outgoing head of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Andy Stern, former Sodexo canteen cashier Terry Shelley and several others, after crossing a police line outside the US offices of the food services firm.

The action brought together hourly-paid workers, students, and even union representatives from Britain and France who sought to show support for US workers like Shelley, who said she was fired after becoming active in a trade union.

"We're here today to say no more to deplorable pay and working conditions," Glover told the crowd of around 300 as they shouted "No Justice, No Pizza", a reference to cafeteria workers who claim they are underpaid and receive few benefits from Sodexo.

"This is a global corporation with global responsibility and we are going to hold them accountable to that responsibility," said Glover, who has starred in movies including "2012" and "Escape from Alcatraz."

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Another Warrant Issued For No-Show Quaids

Actor Randy Quaid and his wife are in trouble with the law again after failing to show up for a court date in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Monday.

Arrest warrants have again been issued for the couple in their ongoing legal battle over an unpaid hotel bill.

The couple is accused of burglary and defrauding an innkeeper.

The Quaids have had a number of warrants issued for their arrest over past court no-shows -- each one was later quashed.

The couple is charged with failing to settle a $10,000 bill after staying at the luxury San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara in September.

The pair ignored five orders to appear in court last year before pleading not guilty to all charges in December, and the husband and wife were each released on $40,000 bail.

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Police Union's Hiring of Former Bail Bondsman Causes Furor

The Austin police union has hired as a consultant a former bail bondsman who records show once owed the county more than $1 million in bonds from dozens of clients who failed to return to court.

Charles Kent Olson, 52, paid part of his bill to the county but declared bankruptcy in 2004 when officials tried to collect the remaining balance, according to records. He said he also voluntarily surrendered his license to work as a bondsman.

The hiring of Olson by the Austin Police Association, one of the most powerful organizations in local politics, has created a furor among officers in recent days after the American-Statesman began asking about his employment.

A board member resigned in protest Thursday, and this week the union's president sent an e-mail to the 1,600 members in which he accused two unnamed officers of "sneaking around to the media" to discuss their concerns.

Sgt. Wayne Vincent said in the e-mail that he had not attempted to conceal Olson's hiring but that "some business is best left done in a discreet manner."

"Whatever the reason, we are not going to be deterred, nor run from this latest attempt to embarrass us," Vincent wrote.

He did not name Olson in the e-mail.

The hiring exposes acrimony in what has been a cohesive political force, playing a major role in Austin City Council and mayoral elections and garnering pay raises for members in years when other city workers got no pay increases.

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Bondsmen Face Charges Of Impersonating Cops

Women Claim Bondsmen Terrorized Them

Two women said they were terrorized and thought a couple of men coming after them were police officers.

One man was arrested, and authorities said they're looking for another man.

Detectives said a couple of bail bondsmen, who are supposed to bring people in if they skip their court dates, went over the top when they went looking for clients who broke the rules.

Police said the bondsmen led people to believe they had more power than the law allows.

A 22-year-old woman was so scared that she asked not to have her identity revealed.

"I was more frightened than upset," the woman said.

Major Lanier is accused of grabbing the woman from her job and forcing her into a car for hours. She had signed for a bail bond for a friend, and when the bondsman went looking for him, police said they illegally used her to try to locate her friend.

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Mailbox-Bomb Suspect Arrested in Texas

People in East Texas are breathing a bit easier today after authorities announced the arrest of a suspect accused of possession of a pipe bomb.

Federal authorities will detail their case against Larry Gene North of Henderson today, the Associated Press reports.

An indictment filed in federal court mentions only one case of possessing a bomb March 23 -- the same day an apparent pipe bomb was found in a mailbox in a small town near Tyler.

At least 16 explosive devices or lookalikes have turned up in East Texas mailboxes. None has blown up and no one has been injured, the AP says.

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Bail set for Kiel basketball coach accused of sexual contact with students

MANITOWOC — Bail has been set at $100,000 for a 32-year-old former teacher and girls basketball coach at Kiel High School for allegedly having sexual contact with multiple female students, ordered Wednesday by Manitowoc County Circuit Court Commissioner Raymond Greig.

Ryan Zellner allegedly used his position of authority at the school to “manipulate and intimidate” students, primarily girls younger than 16, said Kiel Police Chief David Funkhouser.

Funkhouser said police believe Zellner’s behavior was pre-meditated and predatory based on significant amounts of evidence brought forth from several 

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Atlanta Bail Bondsman Jailed for Robbery

A local bail bondsman was behind bars Monday night and denied bond. Robert Brewer, who runs his own ankle monitoring company, is now charged with armed robbery.

"As he was walking around, he was bringing the gun up like this," said the alleged victim Demetrius Jackson.

Jackson said he and his friends were held at gunpoint outside Lenox Square Mall two weeks ago. Jackson said he screamed and started running.

"Since I did know he had a gun, I was afraid he was going to shoot me in my back. So I hid under a car," recalled Jackson.

Police said the man with the gun was local bail bondsman Robbie Brewer. According to officials at the Fulton County jail, Brewer runs the Atlanta Ankle Monitoring company. Back in November, in an interview with FOX 5, Brewer said his company uses bracelets to keep accused criminals on house arrest.

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Oklahoma Bail Bondsman Wanted in Southeast Kansas

COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) - A southeast Kansas sheriff's department has placed an Oklahoma bail bondsman on its Most Wanted list after he failed to show up for a court appearance.

The Joplin Globe reported that the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department has issued an arrest warrant for Gregory Alex Sawin.

The 34-year-old Vinita, Okla., man failed to appear in court last month on misdemeanor charges of criminal restraint, assault and impersonating police

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NFL Lineman Arrested With Loaded Gun at Airport

Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers has been arrested for carrying a loaded gun in his carry-on luggage at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport, according to Ohio media reports Thursday.

The NFL star, who had been at the team's suburban training facility in recent days, was stopped at a security checkpoint when officials spotted a loaded .45-caliber hand gun in his carry-on luggage, police said in a statement.

Rogers apparently told police he'd forgotten the handgun was in his bag, 19 Action News reported.

He was arrested carrying a concealed weapon, which is a third degree felony, but has yet to be charged, according to ABC's WEWS-TV.

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No Bail For Man Charged in Baby Death

Alexander Stolte will remain in a Vermont prison while awaiting trial in the death of 1-year-old Kyleigh McDaniel of Andover, a judge ruled today.

Judge Thomas Devine denied bail for Stolte, who is charged with second-degree murder in the girl's death.

Stolte and his attorney, Daniel Sedon, appeared yesterday in Orange County District Court in Chelsea, Vt., and requested bail. Stolte has been in custody since March 18, and was denied bail at his arraignment the next day.


Sedon said yesterday that the evidence against Stolte is “circumstantial” and insufficient to justify holding him without bail.

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