Hollywood Out On Bail Bond

Kiefer Sutherland, the star of the Fox TV drama "24" was arrested Tuesday on DUI charges. Mr. Keifer Sutherland posted a $25,000 bail bond and was subsequently released there after. The forty year old actor is still on probation for a 2004 DUI arrest and can face up to one year in jail if convicted.

The City Attorneys office has not released his blood-alcohol level and he is scheduled to appear in court on October 16, 2007.

Cash Bail Gone Wrong

Norman Hsu, a Democratic Fundraiser has been in the news these last couple of months on fraud charges stemming from 15 years ago. Supposedly, Mr. Hsu received monies from several families for the democratic party illegally?

When arrested last month, Mr. Norman Hsu posted cash bail in the amount of $2,000,000.00. The prosecution is now saying that Mr. Hsu missed a September 5, 2007, court appearance and the court forfeited his bail.

At the present time, Mr. Norman Hsu is sitting in jail and the district attorney's office is trying hold the 2 million dollars to somehow compensate the families for their loss. The state law holds that such defendant is entitled to recovering the money if he appears within 180 days, no matter the circumstances.

Regardless, we can obviously see how the criminal court system can take advantage of a cash bail situation. Things could of been much different if Mr. Norman Hsu has posted a bail bond instead.

Orange County Bail Bonds Slowdown

The Orange County Jail, Theo Lacy facility is on lockdown after several weeks of violence between inmates of two ethnic groups. The Theo Lacy facility houses 3,000 inmates and the lockdown security measure is the second in nearly three years.

Inmates families are concerned because of the very limited contact they have and visiting has been canceled for the time being. Fastrak Bail Bonds has also been experiencing delays when posting the bail bonds for the clients. The time release when posting a bail bond is approximately four to six hours and we have been seeing clients release time on a bail bond take up to twelve hours.

Currently, only official visits from Attorneys, Bail Bond agents and law enforcement will be accepted.

Orange County Bail Bonds

Rodney J. Bartow, 53, was arrested Sunday after allegedly attempting to back over the unnamed officer when a vehicle pursuit ended at a locked gate on Snow Camp Road.

The incident occurred in Humboldt County an area of northern California. The bail bond amount set for the defendant was $50,000.00, and it is believed that Mr. Rodney J. Bartow posted the bail bond amount through a local bail bond agency.

Mr. Rodney J. Bartow is a very lucky man, the bail amount could of been much higher in Orange County.

Southern California Bail Bonds

Simpson made his $125,000 bail on charges including kidnapping and armed robbery on September 19, 2007. People might ask if the amount of bail was justified? Unfortunately, the presiding judge over the case may deter from the bail bond schedule for that jurisdiction based on the individual's past criminal history and the likeliness of flight. In addition, for the sole purposes of bail, the defendant is considered guilty of the underlying charges.

In this case, I believe the court was justified in the amount of bail set for O.J. Simpson. Let's not forget, it is our constitutional right to non-excessive bail under the 8th amendment.