Get Out of Jail, Flee? Firms Warn Bond ATM Risky

FLORIDA - Dining out, traveling and shopping all became fast and easy with the advent of the credit card. So, why not use it to bail out of jail? In St. Lucie County, FL any inmate or member of their family can present a credit card to the jail to post bond on the spot. Bill Kreins, spokesman for Professional Bail Agents of the United States, an industry association, says credit card processing dramatically cuts into the bail bond business. Others argue that the new system cuts down on paperwork, is faster and more efficient for the jail staff, the inmate, and the taxpayers who keep the jail running.

Missouri Bondsmen Charged

MISSOURI - Three bondsmen -- Steven Morgan, Thaddeus Bibb and Randall Avett -- working for the AAA Bail Bonds Company face criminal charges, stemming from an incident in which the trio broke down the door at an Imperial home and held the occupants at gunpoint. The bondsmen were trying to apprehend a felon but had the wrong house, authorities say. Instead, the bondsmen badly frightened Garth Myers and fiancée Melissa Bauman. The bondsmen face charges of burglary, armed criminal action, felonious restraint, and property damage.

Judges in Newark Wary of Lowering Bail

NEW JERSEY - Essex County Assignment Judge Patricia Costello has instructed the judges in the county who hear criminal cases to get written consent from prosecutors before reducing bail in these cases. She also has asked the judges to verify defendants' immigration status. This stems from the triple slaying in Newark, committed by an illegal immigrant free on bail.

Man Charged with Murder has his Bail Altered for School

NEW ZEALAND - David Bain, awaiting a re-trail on charges that he murdered his family, has had his bail conditions altered so that he can study in West Auckland. Bain was convicted of the crime in 1995, but in May of this year it was found that the 1995 may have been a miscarriage of justice. Bain had already served 12 years for allegedly shooting his father, mother, and three siblings in 1994.

Bail for the Holiday in Belfast

IRELAND - A Belfast man, Gary 'Jock' McKenzie, has had his bail conditions changed so that he can go on a holiday for a week in the Caribbean. McKenzie is accused of UDA membership. He and others were arrested during a police raid. This is on the first time McKenzie was one of a number of people who left north Belfast last August for England following a has had his bail conditions altered. In fact, his conditions have been changed a number of times in the past. Once they were altered so that he could live in exile.

Suspect Surrenders Due to Bail Bondsman

COLORADO - A man suspected of being a member of the Hooded Safe Bandits is under arrest after turning himself in to police Wednesday night, due to a bail bondsman who arranged the surrender. The bail bondsman says they got in contact with Santistevan through his family and arranged the surrender. He said they were looking for Manual Santistevan on an unrelated case.