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GRAND JUNCTION — Bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman’s top Mesa County fugitive target remained free Wednesday as some of his alleged associates were behind bars.
Marco Antonio Padilla, 32, an alleged player in the region’s meth-distribution trade who skipped town nine months ago while free on $75,000 bond, was believed to have fled to the Denver area several months ago, according to court records.
The same records suggest Chapman was hired by Safety National Casualty Corp., a St. Louis-based insurance company which is on the hook for Padilla’s $75,000 bond.
After months of legal wrangling over whether the company would have to forfeit the money, District Judge Valerie Robison on Aug. 28 granted an extension.
And more time to search for Padilla.
The judge “stayed” execution of judgment against Safety National until Nov. 28.
Robison said a judgment of $75,000 would be issued against Safety National Casualty if Padilla wasn’t brought in by that date.
Under state laws governing bail bonds, the insurer could recoup losses from the local bail bonding company which helped free Padilla, Homeward Bound Bail Bonds.
“Co-signer will likely lose their home because they do not have $75,000,” Bud Hubbard, with Homeward Bound, wrote to the judge asking for more time to find Padilla.
Padilla, who faced eight charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and a sentence-enhancing special offender charge, failed to appear for trial in Mesa County on Nov. 26, 2007, according to court records.
Robison issued a new warrant for Padilla’s arrest and set bond at $150,000.
Chapman, the star of the A & E television program “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” caused a stir Sept. 3 when he showed up at the Mesa County Justice Center and met with Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Rubinstein.
Rubinstein said Chapman likely knows he needs information from Padilla’s known associates or friends in order to make the big capture.
Elizabeth Willis, 20, Lydia Ramos, 27, and Nick Angel, 33 — all who had active warrants from Mesa County — were confirmed Wednesday in custody at jails in Denver and Arapahoe counties.
“These are people he’s bumping in to who just happen to be wanted on Mesa County warrants,” Rubinstein said.
Padilla’s bondsman, Jim Hubbard, has been looking for Padilla over several months.
Hubbard wrote in a March 4 request to Robison for more time to capture Padilla, that his family in Denver “isn’t cooperating.”
“Defendant & family is well known to be involved in the drug business; associates & friends are involved in & with the Mexican Mafia, causing an additional problem obtaining information & causing a very dangerous circumstance,” Hubbard wrote.
Hubbard wrote to the judge “it’s in the state’s interest” to delay a judgment of Padilla’s $75,000 bond.
“The apprehension of this defendant will negatively impact influx of drugs into Mesa County.”
Jim Hubbard declined to comment on Wednesday.
Marco Antonio Padilla, 32, an alleged player in the region’s meth-distribution trade who skipped town nine months ago while free on $75,000 bond, was believed to have fled to the Denver area several months ago, according to court records.
The same records suggest Chapman was hired by Safety National Casualty Corp., a St. Louis-based insurance company which is on the hook for Padilla’s $75,000 bond.
After months of legal wrangling over whether the company would have to forfeit the money, District Judge Valerie Robison on Aug. 28 granted an extension.
And more time to search for Padilla.
The judge “stayed” execution of judgment against Safety National until Nov. 28.
Robison said a judgment of $75,000 would be issued against Safety National Casualty if Padilla wasn’t brought in by that date.
Under state laws governing bail bonds, the insurer could recoup losses from the local bail bonding company which helped free Padilla, Homeward Bound Bail Bonds.
“Co-signer will likely lose their home because they do not have $75,000,” Bud Hubbard, with Homeward Bound, wrote to the judge asking for more time to find Padilla.
Padilla, who faced eight charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and a sentence-enhancing special offender charge, failed to appear for trial in Mesa County on Nov. 26, 2007, according to court records.
Robison issued a new warrant for Padilla’s arrest and set bond at $150,000.
Chapman, the star of the A & E television program “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” caused a stir Sept. 3 when he showed up at the Mesa County Justice Center and met with Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Rubinstein.
Rubinstein said Chapman likely knows he needs information from Padilla’s known associates or friends in order to make the big capture.
Elizabeth Willis, 20, Lydia Ramos, 27, and Nick Angel, 33 — all who had active warrants from Mesa County — were confirmed Wednesday in custody at jails in Denver and Arapahoe counties.
“These are people he’s bumping in to who just happen to be wanted on Mesa County warrants,” Rubinstein said.
Padilla’s bondsman, Jim Hubbard, has been looking for Padilla over several months.
Hubbard wrote in a March 4 request to Robison for more time to capture Padilla, that his family in Denver “isn’t cooperating.”
“Defendant & family is well known to be involved in the drug business; associates & friends are involved in & with the Mexican Mafia, causing an additional problem obtaining information & causing a very dangerous circumstance,” Hubbard wrote.
Hubbard wrote to the judge “it’s in the state’s interest” to delay a judgment of Padilla’s $75,000 bond.
“The apprehension of this defendant will negatively impact influx of drugs into Mesa County.”
Jim Hubbard declined to comment on Wednesday.
Five warrants
Altogether, Padilla is wanted on five active arrest warrants — the combined bonds are $155,700.Aside from his 2007 felony drug case, the warrants include three traffic violations and a separate 2007 felony case for false reporting.
Padilla, formerly a car salesman at a Grand Junction dealership, was arrested in April 2007 on a Drug Task Force warrant after Padilla allegedly drove to Delta’s Wal-Mart Supercenter for a drug deal, according to court records.
Officers were tipped in advance the car Padilla was riding in was enroute to pick up a half-pound of meth. Smaller quantities were allegedly found during the arrests of three men, including Padilla.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com
