Dog the Bounty Hunter's Bracelet Removed For NYC Trip  9/30/06

TV reality star Duane "Dog" Chapman has had his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet removed for his forthcoming trip to New York City.

The Hawaii-based reality star Chapman is out on bail while international criminal charges are pending, but a judge has agreed to temporarily strip him of his ankle bracelet so he could attend a previously scheduled appearance.

His attorney, Brook Hart, says, "As a practical matter, traveling around with an ankle bracelet is not a very efficient practice."

The reality show star and two of his Dog the Bounty Hunter co-stars were arrested earlier this month (15SEP06) for illegal detention and conspiracy in the capture of a cosmetics company heir in Mexico, where bounty hunting is a crime.

The trio had ensnared convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir three years ago (03) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. But they, too, were arrested by Mexican authorities.

Chapman's capture of Luster, who had fled the country during his trial on charges he raped three women, catapulted the 53-year-old bounty hunter to fame and led to the reality series on A&E. Luster is now serving a 124-year prison term.