Dog the Bounty Hunter visits East County

Twenty-five-year-old Dylan Horn sported a long blond wig with crazy bangs as he sat among a crowd of more than 400 people Oct. 9 at The Source Church.

From a seat near the back, he heard a story much like his own, one of a man who had made poor choices, but had turned his life around. It was the story of Duane “Dog” Chapman, star of the television series “Dog the Bounty Hunter” and its follow-up, “Dog and Beth: On the Hunt.”

Chapman, whose long blond crazy hair is real, shared his life story during church services at The Source. He spoke of joining a gang, being convicted of murder and his journey of becoming a bounty hunter.

 “It means a lot,” Horn said of hearing Chapman speak. “He has a similar story to mine. I’ve been redeemed like he has. I’ve been to prison. He really speaks to the people who feel rougher around the edges, but I feel his message speaks to everybody.”

Chapman’s appearance at The Source stems from a connection between its pastors, Ralph and Joanne Hoehne, and their close friend, internationally known inspirational speaker Tim Story.

Story serves as a life coach to many Hollywood celebrities, including Chapman and his wife, Beth. Joanne Hoehne met Beth Chapman at a dinner Story hosted more than a year ago. About a month ago, the Chapmans called to say they would be in town and offered to speak at The Source.

“They have a unique message,” Joanne Hoehne said. “They can reach a group of people we can’t. (Dog) comes out of a really rough situation. He has an amazing story of God turning things around for him. He had been in prison. My husband and I don’t have that kind of story. For us, it’s important for us to bring people of different backgrounds and situations to show that God can give you a second chance no matter what you’ve been through.”

Ralph Hoehne related Chapman’s story to that of the biblical story of Peter, a disciple of Jesus who denied knowing him.

“When God looks at you, and you think, ‘If you only knew what I did,’ God says, ‘Really?’” Ralph Hoehne said. “He’ll take people who are shaky to do some really stable things.”

Chapman, 64, was born in Colorado, but grew up in Pampa, Texas. As a teenager there, he joined a dangerous motorcycle gang. 

He committed robberies and other crimes, but always made his gang members pray and refused to burglarize homes on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings — times people typically attend church services, he said.

“Every crime I committed, I knew (God) was watching,” Chapman said. “Maybe he was a little busy in Vietnam, I thought, and I’d do the robbery.”

In 1976, Chapman was 23 years old when he was in the car at the time one of his fellow gang members shot and killed a man. After being charged with murder, Chapman left the gang and awaited sentencing.

He was convicted  and sentenced to five years in prison. During that time, he counseled other inmates, became the warden’s barber and shared the Gospel with prisoners and guards alike.

He told the crowd of a time when an inmate tore through the prison yard, knocking down every guard in his path to escape. He sprinted after and tackled him when he heard the guard rifle’s click into position. 

He’d wanted to save his friend. Instead, the warden gave him his new profession.

“I was trying to find a way to die so (God) would give me a pass,” Chapman said. “The warden tossed me handcuffs and said, ‘Hook him up, bounty hunter.’”

After 18 months in prison, Chapman was paroled in January 1979 and began his bounty hunting career, chronicled for eight seasons until May 2012 on A&E in the reality television series “Dog the Bounty Hunter.” 

He and his wife, Beth, starred in “Dog and Beth: On the Hunt” on CMT until that series ended in August 2015.

East County residents were excited to hear Chapman’s story in person, after watching him on television for years.

“I liked how he changed his life,” East County resident Natalie Miller said.

Matt Hill, of Palmetto, agreed.

“It was neat to hear where he’s been, where he’s come from,” he said. “It doesn’t matter your background, you can always make the change.”

Joanne Hoehne said The Source helped to offset some of the Chapman’s expenses, but declined further details.

“We’ll just say they’re pulling a favor for us,” she said.