Dog the Bounty Hunter Speaks Out For Joe Francis

Dog the Bounty Hunter Speaks Out For Joe Francis

Duane 'Dog' Chapman, star of TV's popular bounty hunter show, offers to co-sign Girls Gone Wild Founder's Jail Bond

RENO, Nev., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- After watching a jailhouse interview with Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis on Fox News' "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren," and then independently researching Francis' legal situation, Duane "Dog" Chapman has determined that Francis has been mistreated by the Florida legal system and has offered to stand up for Joe in court. "I make this offer to the judge who is keeping Joe Francis behind bars," the famous bounty hunter said. "I will co-sign Joe's bond, and if he violates his bail in any way; if he fools me or proves me wrong, I will personally track him down to the ends of the earth at no charge, and bring him back before the judge." But it doesn't end there. Dog's wife Beth Chapman (known as "Mrs. Dog") who owns the bond company, has offered to personally write the bond for Joe, which creates double exposure for Dog and his family if Dog is wrong about Joe.

Chapman, who is the subject of the reality TV series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," made this extraordinary offer after learning that Francis has been behind bars for over six months without bail in a case that dates back to 2003. "I have captured over 6500 bail jumpers and criminals," says Chapman. "In my years I have seen bail granted to thousands of people charged with far worse crimes than Francis. It's a travesty that this man sits behind bars without having the opportunity to post bond. His rights are being violated."

After seeing the Francis interview on "On The Record with Greta van Susteren," Chapman called the Washoe County Jail in Reno, Nevada, where Francis is being held while awaiting trial, to introduce himself to the Girls Gone Wild founder. Chapman then contacted Francis' noted Nevada lawyer David R. Houston and offered to do what he could to help Francis get out of jail.

"It says a lot that a man like Duane Chapman, who is so familiar with the criminal justice system and with bail specifically, is willing to stand up for Joe in court," says Houston. Francis has been granted bail by a federal judge in Reno for a tax case, but has been denied bail by a judge in Bay County, Florida whose officials have had a vendetta against Francis even since Francis filed a First Amendment lawsuit against them in 2003. Francis is represented in Florida by famed attorney Roy Black.

Media interest in Francis' case has grown since the launch of MeetJoeFrancis.com, a website that contains the full details of Francis' legal story. Chapman believes in Francis so strongly that he's added a link to MeetJoeFrancis.com on his own website, DogTheBountyHunter.com. Francis broke his silence on his legal case for the first time in six months last Wednesday in an interview from behind bars with Fox News journalist Greta Van Susteren.

Joe Francis

Joe Francis (born April 1, 1973), is best known as the founder and CEO of the Girls Gone Wild (GGW) lifestyle brand, which has become an American pop culture phenomenon. Francis graduated from the University of Southern California in 1995 with a degree in business, and founded Mantra Films, his global entertainment company, at age 24.

Duane "Dog" Chapman

Duane "Dog" Chapman is the star of "Dog the Bounty Hunter, a reality television show chronicling the adventures of Chapman who runs Da Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu, Hawaii along with his wife Beth, sons Leland and Duane Lee, daughter Lyssa Chapman and associate Tim Chapman. The show airs on A&E Networks.

CONTACT: Kevin A. Mercuri 212-999-5585 kmercuri@5wpr.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Joe Francis

CONTACT: Kevin A. Mercuri, +1-212-999-5585, kmercuri@5wpr.com

Web site: http://www.dogthebountyhunter.com/
http://www.meetjoefrancis.com/

---

Profile: International Entertainment