Interview Done By Mike Wilkerson
MW: PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
CW: CHARLES WAGNER (WAGNER BAIL BONDS)
MW: HOW OR WHY DID YOU BECOME A BAIL BONDS?
CW: FIRST I’LL ANSWER THE “WHY”. I BECAME I BAIL BONDSMAN BECAUSE I KNEW SOMEONE IN THE INDUSTRY. HE SEEMED TO LOVE HIS JOB AND ALWAYS HAD LOTS OF GOOD AND EXCITING STORIES ABOUT THE BAIL BONDS BUSINESS AND, IM NOT GOING TO LIE, IT SEEMED LIKE HE MADE ALOT OF MONEY. SECOND PART THE “HOW”. THE BAIL BONDSMAN I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TOLD ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO. COLORADO, LIKE MOST STATES, REQUIRES THAT YOU TAKE THE BAIL BONDS/BAIL RECOVERY COURSES THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE DIVISION OF INSURANCE AND, TAKE A STATE ADMINISTERED TEST. THOSE ARE THE VERY BASIC FIRST STEPS TO BECOMING A BAIL BONDSMAN.
MW: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A BAIL BONDS?
CW: BAIL BONDS SORT OF WORKS LIKE THIS. IMAGINE PURCHASING A NEW CAR BUT, THE CAR DEALERSHIP WONT LET YOU DRIVE THE NEW CAR OFF THE LOT UNTIL YOU HAVE INSURANCE. THIS IS THE SAME WITH BAIL. WHEN SOMEONE GETS ARRESTED ( IN MOST CASES)THE JAIL WONT LET THEM LEAVE WITHOUT INSURANCE. THE INSURANCE IS FOR A CERTIAN AMOUNT OF MONEY AND IT GUARENTEES THE COURT THAT THE INMATE WILL RETURN TO COURT TO ANSWER TO THEIR CHARGES. THATS WHAT WE DO. WE PROVIDE THE COURT WITH THAT INSURANCE. OUR ARGEEMENT WITH THE COURT IS THAT THE PERSON WILL RETURN TO COURT AND IF THEY DONT, WE WILL GO FIND THEM AND BRING THEM BACK TO JAIL AND, IF WE CAN’T BRING THEM BACK JAIL, WE WILL PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE BOND. THERE IS ALOT MORE TO ALL THIS BUT THOSE ARE THE BASICS.
MW: WHAT DOES A BAIL BONDS DO?
CW: MY DAYS ARE LONG!I ANSWER PHONE CALLS ALL DAY. SOME CALLS ARE FROM CLIENTS THAT IVE BAILED OUT AND THEY NEED TO COME TO MY OFFICE TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK. OTHER CALLS ARE FROM PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE BAILED OUT OF JAIL. I HAVE A DAILY LIST OF DEFENDANTS THAT HAVE COURT AND I AM ALWAYS CALLING MAKING SURE THEY ARE GOING AND GETTING THEIR FUTURE COURT DATES. IF PEOPLE MISS COURT I HAVE TO CALL AND SEE WHY BTHEY MISSED AND IF IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE OR THEY INTENTIONALY MISSED. IF IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE WE CAN USUALLY FIX IT. IF THEY INTENTIONALY MISSED ILL GET THEIR FILE OVER TO MY BOUNTY HUNTERS/RECOVERY AGENTS AND THEY’LL GO GET THE DEFENDANT AND TAKE THEM TO JAIL. AND WHILE IM DOING ALL THAT IM MEETING WITH CO SIGNERS AND POSTING BAIL.
MW: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMEONE JUMPS BAIL?
CW: SEE ABOVE
MW: DO YOU USE OUTSIDE BOUNTY HUNTERS OR DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN?
CW:THE BOUNTY HUNTERS I USE ARE “SUB CONTRACTORS”. MEANING, I HIRE THEM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND THEY WORK FOR SEVERAL OTHER BAIL BONDSMEN AS WELL. ALSO, IF I HAVE SOME TIME AND I KNOW WHERE A “SKIP” MIGHT BE, ILL GO ARREST THEM.I ALWAYS TAKE A RECOVERY AGENT WITH ME FOR BACKUP THOUGH.
MW: TELL ME A STORY ABOUT A BAIL JUMPER?
CW: I DON’T REALLY HAVE A “GREAT” STORY. ONE TIME, ONE OF MY RECOVERY AGENTS AND I MADE AN ARREST AND ON THE WAY TO THE JAIL THE “SKIP” SOMEHOW (WITH HANDCUFFS ON)MANAGED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND JUMP OUT OF THE MOVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. (HE WASNT HURT) AND HE RAN INTO A FIELD AND MY RECOVERY AGENT RAN AND TACKLED HIM.WE GOT HIM BACK IN THE CAR (MADE SURE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ON) AND TOOK HIM TO THE JAIL. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MORE EXCITING RECOVERY’S BEEN APART OF.
MW: WHO IS AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST TO FIND ASAP?
CW: I’M LUCKY. RIGHT NOW, I DONT HAVE ANYONE IM LOOKING FOR BUT, THAT COULD CHANGE ANY DAY.
MW: IS BEING A BAIL BONDS LIKE DOG DEPICTS ON HIS TV SHOW?
CW: DOG SHOW YOU HOW EXTREME THE BOUNTY HUNTING END OF THIS BUSINESS CAN GET. BEING A BAIL BONDSMAN IS WAY MORE DULL AND IM SURE THATS WHY THEY DONT SHOW THAT PART ON TV.
MW: WOULD YOU WANT BETH AND DOG TO COME HELP YOU WITH BAIL JUMPERS?
CW:SURE. I ACTUALLY GOT TO MEET DOG, HIS WIFE BETH, AND LELAND A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. THEY WERE HERE FILMING FOR THEIR NEW SHOW AND THEY WERE FILMING AT ONE OF OUR DENVER OFFICES. THEY HELPED AND FILMED WITH SEVERAL AGENTS THAT I KNOW AND WORK WITH, AND IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A SKIP OR TWO I WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD FOR THEM TO HELP.
MW: WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR OWN REALITY SHOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?
CW: NO. (CAMERA SHY)LOL
MW: WILL YOU BE WATCHING BETH & DOG ON THE HUNT ON CMT?
CW: YES. I MAY EVEN BE ON ONE OF THEIR FIRST EPISODES (VERY BRIEF IF AT ALL)
MW: DID YOU WATCH DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER ON A&E?
CW: YES. ALL THE TIME
MW: WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO?
CW: SLEEP
MW: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY IN CLOSING?
CW: THE BAIL BONDS INDUSTRY PLAYS A VERY INPORTANT ROLE IN SOCIETY AND, THERE IS NOTHING MORE EFECTIVE AT GETTING A PERSON TO GET TO THEIR COURT DATE AND ANSWER TO THEIR CHARGES. JUST ASK CHICAGO! LOL (INSIDE BAIL JOKE)
Blastzone Mike's Live Show/blastzone Online 