Editor's Note: The Bail News Round-up consists of news items that occurred over the previous week and upcoming industry events. If you have items you would like to contribute, please call us at (866) 411-2245 or click here.

This past week, the AboutBail.com staff was perusing the media in search of stories about the bail industry. What we found was information about one of our favorite fictional bounty hunters and plenty of stories about bondsmen doing their jobs despite sure dangers. We were also glued to the newspapers and television to learn more about bounty hunting in the Philippines. Here were the news items that caught our attention over the past seven days:

Author of Stephanie Plum Books Gives Interview about Her Favorite Bounty Hunter
CANADA - Author Janet Evanovich, creator of famous bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and author of many best-selling Plum books, recently gave a media interview. Evanovich revealed that after two decades of writing, her books remain very much about family. Evanovich's interest in writing began when she watched her extended family interact. Today, her own family is a big factor in the writing and promotion of the Plum books. Her daughter, Alex, oversees her web sites; her son, Peter, oversees the legal and financial aspect of book writing. Evanovich was recently in Toronto promoting her latest Stephanie Plum novel. Evanovich is planning to release another small novel about her most famous bounty hunter in January. The fourteenth full-length Plum book is scheduled for next June. (CanadaEast Interactive, July 2, 2007)

Bondsmen Unearth Explosives in Georgia
GEORGIA - The two men working as bounty hunters and bail bondsmen discovered explosives in a storage locker in Georgia this past week. The two men, known as Cobra and Tank, are known for recently returning Christopher Riendeau to Collier County. This past week, in Valdosta, the pair notified authorities after uncovering bombs and guns in a storage unit belonging to Riendeau. After the area was evacuated, a bomb squad from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations detonated the explosives. (Naples Daily News, July 3, 2007)

Bounty Hunters in Philippines Created With US Cash
PHILIPPINES - Thanks in part to money provided by the U.S. Rewards for Justice Program, and thanks in part to the poverty in Sulu, a new generation of bounty hunters - and a new age of problems - is being created in the Philippines. Critics are alleging that even innocent people are being accused of being Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members and are being reported to the military so that bounty hunters can collect reward money. Philippine and U.S. troops are hunting ASG members in Mindanao and other regions. To get help from the public, the US is offering reward money. It appears that some desperate individuals are reporting innocent people as ASG members in order to collect cash rewards or even to settle disputes. (Pinoy Press, July 1, 2007)

Two Men Face Charges after Bail Bond Incident
OKLAHOMA - In Muldrow this past week, a case of mistaken identity landed two bail bond agents in trouble. A man who claimed that two men broke into his home was looking for someone named "Frank" McConnell. When the victim was able to provide ID that showed he was not Frank McConnell, the two men left. Police believed the incident was a bail bonds operation gone wrong. Bond enforcement agent Roger Brooks of Berglan Bail Bonds in Sallisaw was looking for Frank McConnell. Brooks and bail bond agent Rodney Swearingen were questioned about the incident. Both men were booked on first-degree burglary and were released on bail shortly afterwards. Both men have former felony convictions. (Sequoya County Times, June 27, 2007)

Palatka Mother and Daughter Allegedly Attack Bondsman
FLORIDA - A mother and daughter from Palatka, Florida were arrested this past week, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. The charges stem from allegations that the two women struck a bail bondsman's car with their own and then beat the bondsman. The bondsman was attempting to arrest Jacqueline A. Allen, who was wanted on six warrants in Putnam County, when the alleged incident occurred. Allen was in the car with her mother, Pearline M. Wilson, and resisted arrest. Allen was charged with the outstanding warrants and with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Wilson was charged by authorities with misdemeanor battery. (Palatka Daily News, July 5, 2007)

Woman Faces Charges After Helping Son Jump Bail
ARKANSAS - A Bentonville woman is accused of helping her son flee to Belize in order to avoid drugs charges. The allegations are that Marie Chandler permitted her son, Dustin Chandler, to use a credit card in order to rent a car in Tulsa. She also allowed him to charge several purchases in Belize. A bail bondsman found Dustin in Belize and was able to bring charges against both mother and son. (KSWO 7, July 3, 2007)

California Bail Resource Center
Pre-Licensing Education
July 28-29, 2007 San Diego, CA		August 11-12, 2007 Studio City, CA
Continuing Education
July 29, 2007 San Diego, CA		August 12, 2007 Studio City, CA
click here to view all Bail Resource Center Events
Florida Surety Agents Association
FSAA Continuing Education
Bail Motion Seminar July 17, 2007 Winter Park, FL		Securing & Converting Collateral July 31, 2007 Winter Park, FL
click here for details on FSAA Continuing Ed
North Carolina Bail Agents Association
NCBAA Pre-Licensing Classes
July 9-10, 2007 McKimmon Center Raleigh, NC
click here for details on NCBAA Pre-Licensing Classes
Professional Bondsmen of Texas
PBT Bail Bond Courses July 20-21, 2007 San Angelo, TX click here for details on PBT Bail Bond Courses
Professional Bail Agents of the United States
2007 PBUS Mid-Year Meeting July 19-21, 2007 Steamboat Springs, CO click here for details on the PBUS Meeting