DELTA SUN TIMES • MARCH 2014 15 HUNTING IN DISCOVERY BAY by Amanda Dove Discovery Bay residents experienced a bit of celebrity fever when Duane Chapman (AKA: Dog the Bounty Hunter) and his television crew secured a short term rental in Discovery Bay. Duane, along with his wife Beth, are in the area shooting season two of their CMT television show “Dog & Beth: On the Hunt.” No, they aren’t hunting criminals in Discovery Bay, but it’s a nice place to rest your feet after a long day. Duane, Beth, and their son Leland are assisting local bail bondsmen, the Padilla’s (a father and son team), in “their hunt for low-lying criminals in the Stockton to Sacramento area that have skipped bail and need to be returned for justice”, says Chapman. “Bounty hunting is the oldest profession besides prostitution,” explains Chapman. “This is a user-funded service, that doesn’t drain the taxpayer. The cost for the government to hunt down these criminals would cost taxpayers as much as $50,000-$200,000. We find people that are charged with a crime. Often, these people have drug and alcohol problems and are a drain to the community.” The Padilla’s are grateful for the assistance of their colleagues. “We’re like a neighborhood watch.” Topo Padilla is a second generation bail bondsman and is an industry expert: “It typically takes about four months to locate and pick-up someone, and the field of prospects is changing constantly.” The Padilla’s respond with the “Dog and Beth” team when they receive called in tips and good leads. The Chapman’s provide their years of expertise in bounty hunting, knowledge of the latest industry technologies, and “provide a vehicle to go and train, to watch these guys in action,” says Padilla. “The show let’s people watch what we are doing, and we are educating people who watch the program,” explains Beth Chapman. “Police department deputies watch the show and often tell us they watched the show and want to know more about what we do.” The Chapman’s son, Leland, a favorite with young female viewers, is military-trained. He provides expertise in elite forces and military technology such as thermal-imaging, a way to view the location and number of people inside a home when approaching with an arrest warrant. “These tools help when we’re rushing a house, in controlling the situation, Dog the Bounty Hunter star, Duane Chapman, along with his wife and son, Beth and Leland Chapman, have taken up short-term residence in Discovery Bay as they shoot season two of their CMT series, Dog & Beth: On the Hunt. and letting them know we’re in charge when we extract them from the house,” says Leland. “Unfortunately, more than twothirds of the people we pursue are methamphetamine addicts, a drug that terrorizes families and communities,” shared Beth. “We pray with people we have picked up. We believe in second chances.” Duane Chapman enjoys the work he does: “Hemingway said ‘There is no greater joy than hunting a man.’ We pick these people up and so many times they come back years later and say to us “Do you remember me?” These people valued the words we shared with them and are reformed.” The Chapman’s are Discovery Bay residents for just a short time, but are enjoying the small-town America friendliness, even if it’s a little disconcerting when they are used to an eight-foot fence around their home in Hawaii. “People here have dropped off cookies and muffins, pictures of their kids, and even ring the doorbell to ask if Dog is home!” shared Beth. KIDS WISH NETWORK GRANTS WISH FOR CALIFORNIA CHILD BEFORE 13TH SURGERY her mom, dad, brother and sister before another two months of hard recovery thanks to Kids Wish Network. The children’s charity sent inspirational Layla and the entire family on an all-expense paid wish to Disney World. “We love spending time together as a family,” says Layla’s mother, Jeanette Figuerido. “This wish was a special treat, especially with Layla’s upcoming surgery.” The Figueridos of Discovery Bay, CA, are a typical American family, except for one unfortunate difference: 3-year-old Layla suffers from Spina Bifida. The lifethreatening condition is a daily struggle for the family of five, but recently the Figueridos were able to put aside their worries and enjoy an amazing wish granted by Kids Wish Network. birth. Her mother was told it was unlikely that Layla would survive delivery, but proving to be a tenacious fighter, Layla has continued to thrive against her disability. Her illness, and resulting hydrocephalus, forced doctors to place a shunt in her brain immediately after birth, and she has since undergone 12 surgeries in her short three years. The youngest of three children, Layla was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus before Facing her 13th surgery at the end of February, Layla was able to spend quality family time with Layla and her family enjoyed their stay at the fabulous Reunion Resort, visiting the Disney parks and eating at unique Orlando restaurants. The spunky little girl spent time in the Magic Kingdom riding Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, chatting with Mary Poppins at Epcot, and meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse at the Animal Kingdom. “It’s very hard to pick Layla’s favorite part,” relays Figuerido. “She had fun everywhere we went. But that’s Layla; she’s got quite the little personality.” Kids Wish Network would like to thank all the generous sponsors that help grant Layla’s wish: Reunion Resort, Compassion Partners, WonderWorks, Pirates Dinner Adventure, Dollar Rent A Car, Maggiano’s Little Italy and Bubbalous Bodacious Barbeque. Kids Wish Network is a Florida-based charitable organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children having experience life-altering situations. Come experience the Kids Wish Network difference at www. kidswishnetwork.org. Every child deserves a chance at happiness; a wish is a way of bringing them that joy. If you would like to sponsor a child’s wish or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network’s wish-granting services, please call (727) 937-3600 or toll-free (888) 918-9004.