Hearing for 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' postponed in Mexico

HONOLULU (AP) A court hearing in Mexico that could set Duane ``Dog'' Chapman free or order his criminal case to proceed has been postponed. <br/><br/>The federal court hearing was to begin Monday

Tuesday, December 5th 2006, 8:39 pm

By: News On 6

HONOLULU (AP) A court hearing in Mexico that could set Duane ``Dog'' Chapman free or order his criminal case to proceed has been postponed.

The federal court hearing was to begin Monday in Guadalajara but was postponed because a report from a lower court was not received, according to Chapman's spokeswoman Mona Wood.

A new date for the hearing has not been set.

The 53-year-old TV bounty hunter is charged under Mexican law with ``deprivation of liberty'' for his June 2003 capture of fugitive convicted rapist Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir, in Puerto Vallarta.

Chapman's attorney, William Bollard, was scheduled to present arguments starting Monday. Chapman was not going to attend the closed hearing in Guadalajara.

Chapman was arrested September 14th along with his son and another associate and is free on $300,000 bail. He has been aggressively fighting extradition. He faces up to four years in a Mexican jail if convicted.

Chapman's capture of Luster catapulted the Honolulu-based bounty hunter to fame and led to the A&E reality series ``Dog the Bounty Hunter.''

His disappearance set off a national and international manhunt by police, FBI and bounty hunters trying to recoup some of the bond money. Luster is now serving a 124-year prison term.