Court Decides That Bondsmen Can Advertise

HOUSTON, TX - Bail bondsman Carl Pruett solicited his business by cold-calling alleged criminals before they were picked up. The Harris County Bail Bond Board told Pruett to stop calling about six years ago. They alleged that his actions were putting officers and bondsmen in danger by alerting them that they were being sought. Pruett sued the board and Harris County, and a federal appeals court has ruled that his cold-calling is protected by the First Amendment. Pruett will have to make his calls to between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Pickax Assault on Bondsman

BILLINGS, MT - If you need further evidence that bail bondsmen have a dangerous job, here it is. Peter Francis Dolan is charged with assault with a weapon after he attacked a bail bondsman with a pickax. A bondsman entered Dolan’s home and asked him if he knew a man who had violated a bail agreement. Dolan then allegedly seized a pickax and swung at the bondsman, who used pepper spray to defend himself. Dolan put the ax down and the bondsman called authorities.  

Bounty Hunter Takes on Merimon Case

LUBBOCK, TX - Bounty hunter Gary Pringle is heading the investigation into the disappearance of Peggy Merimon. Pringle has issued a statement that he will pay for a lie detector test or for any other measure needed to find out the truth about the woman’s disappearance. Peggy Merimon disappeared on August 9, 2006. She and a co-worker disappeared from the Lubbock State School. While the body of her co-worker was discovered, Merimon’s was never found.

Man Indicted With Impersonating Bail Agent

GREENSBURG, KT - Julian B. Stevens III was indicted on a charge of impersonating a bail agent. Stevens entered a home with a badge and handcuffs. He told residents that he was a bail agent and that he was there to arrest one of the residents. When police arrived on the scene, they found Stevens with two badges as well as handcuffs. If Stevens is convicted, he could face up to five years in jail. His bail has been set at 10 percent of $20,000.

Orange County Standoff

ORANGE COUNTY, FL - Donny Hinds is accused of shooting at five bail bondsmen and barricading himself in a house. He was able to keep Orange County deputies off for hours after bondsmen arrived at his home to take him to custody. After Hinds began shooting, the bondsmen called deputies. A SWAT team deployed tear gas and stormed the property, forcing Hinds to surrender himself to authorities.