There are several important things to remember if one is a bail bondsman.
"Common sense is the main thing," said John Johnson, who has been in the business for 21 years. "You have to make a judgment call. Do I believe this guy? Do I think this person will go to court - and secondly, will I be able to find him if he doesn't?"
He laughed, and added, "You might want to add a LOL to the end of that."
Bail bond agents, sometimes casually called "bounty hunters," work for agencies that pledge money as bail for the appearance of persons accused of a crime - based on the presumption that the suspect will show up in court. This gets the accused person out of jail until such time as he or she answers to a judge. The bail fee is generally 10 percent of the bail.
The other big thing to remember, Johnson said, is not everyone shows up for court dates. There are various reasons for this, he added.
"They'll more often than not hide," he said of those who skip their court dates. "There are some creative hiding places."
He said hiding in bathtubs are among the least-creative ideas. But there are some memorable exceptions, Johnson added.
"One recently hollowed out a bed," he said. "Once, we pulled one guy out from under a bed, holding an oak slat. It took so long to find him that he fell asleep."
Johnson said it's in everyone's interest to keep their promises to the court.
"We do keep track of our people," he added. "If they get out and then commit more crimes, we will revoke their bond."
Sometimes, Johnson and his co-workers develop relationships with suspects and try to help them all they can.
"At this point, I'm that person's friend," he said. "I tell them to go to court. Don't avoid me. Just stay in contact with us and we can work through any problem."
Johnson, 52, wasn't always a bail bond agent.
"I did odds and ends jobs. I was a (state) corrections officer," he said. "I did maintenance and installation of vending machines."
His father, now retired, became a licensed bail bond agent after learning about the business from a family member who also was one. Johnson said said he bought the business about 10 years ago from his dad and he currently works with eight people, including his wife Karen.
Unlike the actors on "Dog the Bounty Hunter," Johnson said he prefers a different title.
"We don't use the term 'bounty hunter,'" he said. "A lot of them are the ones who do things not by the book, and give us a bad name."
The show also romanticizes the job. Sometimes, the wrong people got into the business as a result.
"I also wanted to add that due to the fact that some bail bondsmen are more professional than others, I would strongly recommend that anyone needing the services of a bondsman Google the bondsman you are considering using and try to find out a little about that person," he said. "Make sure it is a reputable bail bond agent."
There's another fact vs. fiction.
"We don't have a TV director following us," Johnson said. "A lot of what they do (on the show) is basically to make the show interesting."
Sometimes when Johnson and his co-workers are looking for someone, things don't go as planned.
"I was at an apartment at a housing complex," he said. "We knocked and thought we heard come in."
They did - only to learn they were at the wrong house.
"We seldom just roll up on a house," he said. "We try to depend on the element of surprise."
To become licensed, bail bond agents go through a vigorous background check. They are required to take basic training classes and then continuing education. If they violate procedure, they can be reported to the state Division of Insurance.
Johnson said he's traveled to California, South Florida, Boston (Massachusetts) to retrieve absconders.
"Some states don't recognize bondsmen, but they have lawmen who cooperate with us," he said.
Johnson added every situation is different.
"Everything comes down to common sense," he repeated. "Each case has it's own merits, and no two situations are the same."
If someone skips bond and flees to another state, then gets arrested there, they may or may not be extradited back to Missouri. It may depend on the severity of the crimes, Johnson said.
Sometimes, it's not worth the bond amount to go get them. Sometimes, it is.
"Sometimes I get bored," Johnson admitted. "One guy got caught in central Kansas, and I got bored and went and got him for a $200 bond."
Planning a fundraiser
It's hard to believe Johnson would ever be bored. He has many interests, including his 2001 Heritage Springer Harley-Davidson motorcycle draped in flag paintings. He enjoys competitive barbecues, too.
Johnson also is working with a partner, Quinten Rice, to open a restaurant in Jefferson City. On High Street, it will be called "JQ on High."
His passion for Central Missouri Honor Flight leads him to organize fundraisers, including this summer's 6th Annual Poker Run, Gun Raffle and Live Auction to benefit that organization. This year's event will be Aug. 5, sponsored by The Thirsty Hog Saloon and John Johnson Bail Bonds.
The Poker Run starts and ends at the Thirsty Hog and is generally 100 to 130 miles long through country roads. Well over 100 people attend.
"Every year, it gets bigger and bigger," he said. "This year, we're gong to do a golf tournament the previous weekend for the same cause."
The first Central Missouri Honor Flight Golf Tournament will be at Tanglewood Golf Course, Fulton, on July 29, a four-man scramble at $400 per team. Dinner and soft drinks will be provided by the 83rd Helpers, of VFW Post 2657.
All proceeds will go to the local Honor Flight to fly veterans, cost paid, to Washington, D.C., to visit soldier's memorials. Johnson has helped other's design poker runs, but he's now dedicated to this one.
"We have raised over $30,000, and every penny of it went to Honor Flight," he added. "All the work is done by volunteers."
He said he got his first motorcycle about age 20, and despite a few accidents, he loves to ride.
"I like the open air," he said. "It's nice to be out on the scenic back roads."
Johnson added he plans to stick with the bail bond trade for now.
"There's nothing else I would want to do," he said.