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Bondage & Domination

Denver's bail bondsmen are good at getting other people out of trouble--and themselves into it.

A A A Comments By T.R. Witcher Thursday, Apr 2 1998

On February 27, attorney Chanin filed a counterclaim arguing that Pollack and company had the "ulterior purpose and motive...to harass and intimidate Martinez."

On Thursday, March 5, a settlement was reached, and the restraining orders against Jolene and Jerry Martinez, Duane Chapman and Alice Barmore were dismissed. Both sides claimed victory. The celebration was shortlived. Moments after leaving the courtroom, the foursome ran into Dave Widhalm Jr., a 22-year-old complete with red mohawk and black leather jacket.

The foursome swear they said nothing to Widhalm as he passed them on the way out. D.J. recalls otherwise. "They said 'There's that punk's kid,'" he says. "One of 'em said, 'Let's kick his ass.' Another said, 'We need to kick his ass.'" If Barmore hadn't pulled Chapman back, he adds, he doesn't know what would have happened.

Police technician Randall Smith, who issued Chapman and Jerry Martinez tickets for threatening to injure a person or damage property, says security guards heard loud voices but no threats, so it's Widhalm's word against those of the others. The alleged municipal-ordinance violations were added to the growing list of cases now crowding the legal system as a result of the Battle of Bail Bond Row.

"When a person wants to make a complaint, unless we have some reason to negate it, we have to adjudicate it through the courts," says Officer Smith. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 16.

The Row has been quiet of late. Martinez is still nervous about the unidentified photographer who's been snapping pictures of her office, but other than that, things seem to have calmed down. Dog is spending most of his time these days entertaining a writer who says he wants to write a screenplay about his life.

Everyone on the Row speaks of putting things behind them. They say they don't care about the competition. But Martinez's friend Tanksley figures the tension will continue for a while. "It'll end," he says. "They'll get enough bad publicity, and they'll cut their own throat.