Vigilantes, BEA, Law Enforcement or None?

Hadley and I spent considerable time and effort a few days ago in cleaning up one of the most bizzare situations this state has ever encountered surrounding bail.

Approximately ten people attended a so-called 'BEA training class' in New Hampshire's seacoast area. The classes were held by a then licensed private detective and an attorney. It is alleged the 'trainers' told the attendees once they complete the class they can be licensed as a BEA in NH (not true). Additionally, they were told they could go to the courts and get cases of fugitive bail jumpers and were authorized to apprehend them.

Three of the class members later went to a superior courthouse and perused some files making a copy of the ones identifying defendants who failed to appear. They also went to a county Sheriff and received even more information on the bail skips. The three then went into the field and actually did apprehend some of the bail skips.

What wrong with that, you ask? Check this out...

In the first instance, none of the 'students' qualified as nor were they licensed Bail Enforcement Agents because the training they received is not registered with the state. None are licensed as a PI either.

Secondly, the defendants they apprehended were not on a surety bail; they were ALL on personal recognizance bail (a similar situation as the Chapman/Luster fiasco where no surety bail was involved). What they did was apprehend defendants while acting in the capacity of law enforcement officers when, in fact, they are not law enforcement officers. They told us they even apprehended a defendant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and returned the bad guy to New Hampshire. That is 'kidnapping' under the Massachusetts statute.

We have personally spoken with these individuals and learned that the 'trainers' paid them a small pittance (not even 10%) for the captures. Who paid the trainers? No one! It was all a scam to keep the apprehensions quiet. I don't think the trainers expected the three to actually find and apprehend a bail skip let alone get a case out of a courthouse.

The clerks at the courthouse had no idea what they were doing by sharing the files with people who showed up wearing BEA identifiers so they cooperated. The Sheriff is question should have known better but he didn't and gave the guys all the info he had on the defendants.

The matter was brought to our attention when a US Marshal in Massachusetts called Hadley asking about them. It appears the three went to the Marshal's office seeking information on a fugitive the Marshal's Service was working on. They almost got arrested for interfering in a government investigation (or however they word such a charge).

I have seen a copy of the training manual used in the class the three attended. It is shameful! I compare it to a fifth grade level and there was extremely little information in it about bail and bail enforcement. It was mostly photo copies of building entries and handcuffing techniques.

The PI and attorney who sponsored the class could face a variety of criminal charges in the wake of the actions performed by their 'graduates'. I surrendered all of the information to the NH Attorney General for investigation.

The liability factor in all of this is just incredible.

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Lance Allen Wilkinson
Recoveries by L.A.W.
Serving since 1984
“What is sought is found... what is overlooked escapes” (Oedipus Rex)

It has come to my attention recently (from Lance) that someone said they were trained by USRB here in Arkansas and are now certified as a BEA. No such training is recognized or accepted here, if someone paid for a course and think they are certified in this state will soon find out they are charged with a felony.

That is a strange thing, these "trainers" should be held liable.

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Chuck

True, the "trainers" SHOULD be held liable. However all of the Courts that I have been in as well as Law Enforcement, always says the same thing. . . "Ignorance is no excuse" - therefore when anyone thinks about doing something that they are not sure of, when it comes to interacting and affecting someone elses life , they need to be sure of what is required by law in their state or the state that they are planning on acting in.

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Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN

Luckily, I havent met anyone here in arkansas, that has told me they were trained by the USRB.

Houndog, I have looked up the state bail laws, and I had a question, there is one bond agendy here that employs people to work for them that arent, actual bail bondsman, all these people do is the "dirty work" for the company, are these people legal to do this, as long as they are only retrieving skips for their own company and not for anyone elses?

I've never really said anything about this until now.

NO!!!! It is not legal at all. They can assist a bondsman that accepts responsibility for their actions but, the bondsman must be present at all times. They can do basic phone calling etc., but it would be illegal for them to use any type of data base to do any sort of research that requires licensing for access.

ARE YOU SERIOUS USRB HAS NEVER HELD A CLASS IN ARK. SHOW THE CREDENTIALS ASK THEM TO SEE IT I BET NOT BUD...... ARE YOU SERIOUS... BOY O BOY HATERS!!!!!