Local Bail Bond Agent Suspended Temporarily by Circuit Judge
July 14th, 2009 by Joe BurgessMike Stewart, a Monticello agent of Bob Cole Bail Bond Inc., stood before Drew County Circuit Judge Bynum Gibson earlier this week, and was reprimanded for various actions, including lack of preparation in cases where Stewart’s clients came before the court, such as not knowing how much bond had actually been paid, by some clients.
Stewart was also told to make his “best efforts to insure that bonded persons appear in court, and are on time”, and to bring full, proper documentation of his bonding activity that are on that day’s court docket. Judge Gibson added, “I want it to be done professionally, with no mistakes made.”
One specific topic of discussion was when Judge Gibson asked if he had provided ”bail bonds on credit” or if “partial payment” had been accepted.
Judge Gibson made note in the court’s record that the Circuit Judges were signing an order requiring “any commercial bail bond be paid in full, before any bond is issued. No credit shall be extended.”Â
Recently Saline County judges signed a court order outlawing payment plans on bail premiums. According to Collateral  (a bail bonding industry magazine) in a related  June 23 article, “the Arkansas constitution requires bail bondsmen collect a 10% premium.”Â
Examples: If a bond is set at $1,000, then $100 (10%) is the bail bond cost, plus $70 in required fees, for a total of $170.
If a bond is set at $10,000, then $1,000 (10%) is the bail bond cost, plus $70 in fees, for a total of $1,070.Â
Judge Gibson said in court that the bonding process “has to be done on a level playing field.”
Judge Gibson suspended Stewart’s ability to serve a bail bond agent, until he provided the court with a list of all of his clients, as well as their status. Stewart provided Judge Gibson’s office with that information later that day, allowing his bonding privilege to be re-instated.
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he’s lucky that he ain’t in prison,and that bob ain’t there too
do your homework before you go to get someone,this ain’t the wild west
in my career doing this,I’ve successfully retreived 137 jumpers in a 4 year period
That may be why so many get back on the streets so FAST.So it may not be our courts fault after all.He needs to watch DOG and learn to be a REAL bail bonds.Might look deeper and find out even more about him……. jmo.
Maybe you need to share the knowledge with him! We’re never too old to learn!!!
At least your area is watching these fly-by-night bondsmen. I wish California would do the same!
Mrs.Nan this man has been a bailbonds for years he knows the law.GREAT JOB JUDGE GIBSON!!!!!Give him some time next time.
umm this man is my dad and i dont think he did anything wrong. he told me what happend and if u let him explain to you will understand. he teaches me alot and i plan on taking over the business