Luster Bounty Hunters In Hot Water

A Mexican judge ruled Thursday that there was enough evidence to order American bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman, his brother and his son to stand trial on criminal charges for capturing the heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune.

Judge Jose de Jesus Pineda freed two Americans, producer Jeff Sells and actor Boris Krutonog, but found that the Chapmans should be charged with criminal association and deprivation of liberty — similar to kidnapping without requesting a ransom.

Chapman, a 50-year-old, Hawaii-based bounty hunter, his brother Timothy and his son Leland were arrested along with Sells and Krutonog on June 18, about two hours after the group captured convicted rapist Andrew Luster near a taco stand in this popular Pacific resort city.

Prosecutors maintain that Luster's dramatic capture violated Mexican sovereignty and claim that the Americans should have gone to police instead of trying to capture Luster themselves.

The Chapmans each could face up to eight years in prison if convicted on both counts.

"The evidence justifies that they remain in prison on charges that they committed these crimes," Pineda told The Associated Press minutes before he made the ruling. He added that the same evidence mandated that he drop all charges against Sells and Krutonog.

The Americans were released from prison after posting a bail of US$1,430 each last week, but were ordered to remain in Puerto Vallarta.

Krutonog sent his lawyer and was not present to hear Thursday's ruling. The other four defendants arrived together, but refused to speak to the media. They appeared physically nervous upon entering the courtroom.

Wearing black slacks and a brightly colored shirt, Duane Chapman began pacing in small circles just before Pineda read the ruling. He, his brother and his son stared at the floor silently when the judge announced they should stand trial.

After the ruling, the three tried to speak with the judge, but were told they wouldn't be allowed to. Their lawyer vowed to appeal the decision.

While the Chapmans stayed inside the courthouse for several minutes after the hearing, Sells quickly left with his wife and two friends, leaving his lawyer behind to praise Pineda's decision.

Pineda's ruling means the Chapmans will not be allowed to leave Mexico and will have to check in with the judge every Monday. The case will now be handed over to a judge in Guadalajara, 215 miles (340 kilometers) from Puerto Vallarta, a process that is expected to take several weeks.

Mexico's second-largest city, Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco state, where Puerto Vallarta is located.

Before coming to Mexico, Duane Chapman told reporters he hoped to reap a reward from the US$1 million bail that Luster forfeited by fleeing his Ventura, California, trial. Bounty hunters have no special privileges in Mexico.

Last week, Mexican authorities expelled Luster to the United States, where the cosmetics heir has begun serving a 124-year prison sentence for drugging and raping three women. The 39-year-old fled to Mexico and spent nearly six months on the run after jumping bail.