A reality show bounty hunter was arrested today for allegedly stealing $18,000 from a woman who bailed her son out of jail.
According to Roxi Fyad of Orange County District Attorney’s Office, a woman identified only as Joan S. contacted a bail bonds company in connection with her son’s arrest on Feb. 8, 2013, and consequently met Arturo Alfred Torres.
Torres and a bail agent bailed out the woman’s son and then drove him to his mother’s home in Orange County where Torres demanded a $20,000 check be made out to him personally, Fyad said.
Torres accepted the check from the woman and deposited the money into his account, Fyad said.
No charges were filed against the woman’s son and on March 21, 2013, his bail was exonerated. Torres is accused of refusing to return the money to the woman, despite her repeated attempts to have it returned, Fyad said.
The woman reported to the theft to the California Department of Insurance on Feb. 13, 2014, which investigated the case, said Nancy Kincaid, the department’s press secretary.
Torres might have been entitled to keep $2,000 of the $20,000, so he was accused of embezzling $18,000, Kincaid said.
Torres was arrested in his Winnetka home today.
If convicted of a felony count of grand theft by embezzlement, the 52- year-old Torres could face a jail sentence of up to three years, Fyad said.
Torres appeared on the reality show “Bounty Wars” on Discovery.
“Torres’ alleged theft of more than $18,000 from an innocent victim is reprehensible,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “Licensed bail agents and bounty hunters have an obligation to follow the letter of the law and I will bring to justice those that do not.”
