Chapman Vows To Continue Bounty Hunt Away From Mexico

(andPOP) - DUANE 'DOG' CHAPMAN has vowed to continue his bounty-hunting career - but will not return to Mexico on any future missions.

The star of U.S. TV series Dog The Bounty Hunter escaped charges earlier this month (Aug07) relating to a June 2003 incident in the country, during which he planned to capture serial rapist Andrew Luster - the heir to the Max Factor cosmetics empire - in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast.

However, Chapman fell foul of the Mexican legal system by embarking on the mission, because bounty hunting is deemed illegal in the Latin American country. Chapman, his son Leland and colleague Tim Chapman - no relation - were charged with deprivation of liberty after their success, and were detained in a local prison for two weeks before Chapman jumped bail and fled to the U.S.

And Chapman insists the debacle has given him new motivation for bounty hunting, and he now plans to specialise in targeting perpetrators of crimes against women and children - but will steer clear of the South American country.

He tells FoxNews.com, "I'm going to keep bounty hunting in the U.S., but not in Mexico. I don't know anything else to do. I still have a few to pick up. I felt like I'd had a heart transplant (when the charges were dropped). I felt brand new."

A Mexico judge cancelled an order for Chapman's arrest last Thursday (02Aug07). (JC/WNWCXF/ES)

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