Dog the Bounty Hunter Mexican Case on Hold  10/23/06

Reality TV star Duane 'Dog' Chapman's is delighted Mexican authorities are starting to listen to his side of the story, following his arrest last month (14SEP06) for illegal bounty hunting.

The Hawaii-based star of Dog the Bounty Hunter, his son Leland and another associate were arrested in Mexico last month on a warrant following Chapman's capture of convicted rapist Andrew Luster in June 2003 in Mexico, who had skipped bail in the United States.

However, bounty hunting is a crime in Mexico and Chapman has been accused of conspiracy and the illegal detention of Max Factor heir Luster, who is currently serving a 124-year prison term in the US.

At a press conference yesterday (20OCT06), Chapman said, "The tide is changing a little bit... If it comes out right, would I do it again? You damn right."

Chapman said his lawyer William Boller has spent the past month in Mexico and has managed to persuaded the Mexican federal court to grant an order to halt the case against Chapman until further evidence is found.

Reflecting on the night he spent in a Mexican jail following his arrest, the 53-year-old hard man said, "Jails are truly man-made hells. I'm too old to be traumatized, but it's right next to that. It's just incredible."