POLICE BEAT
Chapman traces fugitive pedophile to El Salvador
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman will return from the Mainland today with evidence that convicted sex offender Frank Lefrandt Jr. left Honolulu and ended up in El Salvador — via Los Angeles and Phoenix, Chapman's publicist said yesterday.
Although Chapman will give authorities ATM and other records that show that Lefrandt is in San Salvador, El Salvador, he will not pursue Lefrandt without a provisional arrest warrant to enter El Salvador, publicist Mona Wood said yesterday.
In June 2003, Chapman, his son Leland Chapman and fellow bounty hunter Tim Chapman, who is not related, faced criminal charges in Mexico for "unlawful deprivation of liberty" when they captured a fugitive serial rapist, Max Factor heir Andrew Luster, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
A Mexican judge eventually dismissed their case, but the Chapmans had also faced extradition and arrest warrants that were issued in the United States while their case was on appeal.
Chapman is the star of the Honolulu-based A&E reality TV show, "Dog the Bounty Hunter," but the show was not in production while Chapman followed Lefrandt's trail on the Mainland and into El Salvador, Wood said.
It is likely, however, that A&E crews would follow Chapman into El Salvador if he gets permission to go there, Wood said.
A FORMER MISSIONARY
Chapman also found out that Lefrandt served as a Mormon missionary in Guatemala 30 years ago.
"He may know the area, but it is definitely not going to be a vacation for him," Chapman said in a statement released by Wood.
On Tuesday, a Circuit Court judge ordered forfeiture of $100,000 bail posted by bondsman James Lindblad for Lefrandt after Lefrandt failed to turn himself in to prison authorities.
Lindblad, the owner of A-1 Bail Bonds, then sought the help of Duane Chapman to find Lefrandt.
Lefrandt, 47, originally was charged with one count each of first- and third-degree sexual assault as well as a count of attempted sexual assault. He pleaded guilty in November to sexual assault and one count of attempted second-degree sexual assault involving a 13-year-old newspaper carrier who worked for him.
Lefrandt was an independent contractor delivering The Honolulu Advertiser when the 13-year-old accompanied Lefrandt to Kapolei to pick up Sunday newspapers for delivery.
Circuit Judge Steven Alm ordered Lefrandt to turn himself in Dec. 1 to await sentencing Feb. 9. But Lefrandt did not appear at O'ahu Community Correctional Center as ordered.
Alm issued a warrant for Lefrandt's arrest and increased Lefrandt's bail from $100,000 to $5 million.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.
