Bounty Hunters Seek Escaped Convicts

Thursday, January 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) â€” It would take something more than a half-million dollars for bail bondsman Kenneth Knowles to don his cowboy hat and head out after the seven dangerous Texas convicts who broke out of prison a month ago.

And it's not more money. Nothing short of a return to the reckless days of his youth would send Knowles out in search of the convicts, who are believed to have an arsenal of more than 40 guns.

``I want to live a little longer. If I was a little younger, a little quicker and could duck a little faster, I would do it,'' said Knowles, a 61-year-old Wichita Falls resident who operates bail bond offices across Texas and has been tracking fugitives for more than 20 years.

The men escaped from a state prison at Kenedy on Dec. 13 and are suspected of killing a police officer in a holdup at a sporting goods store two weeks later. They could get the death penalty if caught and convicted, which means they may have nothing to lose. The reward for their capture has reached $500,000, one of the nation's biggest bounties ever.

Despite the danger, the prospect of a big payoff is getting the attention of bounty hunters.

Dallas private investigator Ted Horneber, 47, said he has assigned eight investigators to the case. ``I'm not really concerned with the money part of it. I just want to get these people off the street,'' he said.

Horneber said he will call law enforcement officers if his firm zeros in on anyone: ``Those are people that are extremely dangerous. We don't want to take any chances with these guys. One of our guys could be hurt.''

The reward may represent only a portion of what could be earned by an enterprising bounty hunter, said Bob Burton, who operates a bounty hunter training school in Tucson, Ariz., and heads the National Association of Bail Recovery Agents, which represents more than 2,00 bounty hunters.

``Getting $3 million to $5 million in book and movie rights, that's the real reward, along with the pleasure of getting to turn down Jay Leno and Geraldo Rivera,'' Burton said.

Burton said bounty hunters who track down the seven should get help from police and contact a reporter to make sure they get the credit.

He added: ``I have instructed all of our bounty hunters to go to the nearest St. Rafael's Church and say a heartfelt novena, because if you stumble into these well-armed thugs, there's going to be something more than the average arrest.''

Bounty hunters usually make their money by hunting down defendants who jump bail. They must hold a private investigator's license to operate in Texas. More than 3,900 private investigators are registered with the state. But no license is needed to track down people who escape from prison.

Texas law enforcement officials have made it clear that civilians should steer clear of the seven convicts.

``As far as DPS is concerned, this is a matter best left to law enforcement. However, anyone who has legitimate tips should contact us,'' said Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger.

That advice is echoed by the Web site for the Texas Commission on Private Security, the agency that licenses bail enforcement agents: ``Be prepared to alert local law enforcement if you have any reason to believe you have information on these men. Do not attempt independent action.''

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Associated Press Writer Kellie B. Gormly contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Texas Commission on Private Security: www.tcps.state.tx.us

National Institute of Bail Enforcement: www.bounty-hunter.net/home.htm