Three bounty hunters seize wrong man, who files suit

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City man whose name is the same as a parole absconder was mistakenly taken from his home this past summer and driven toward Springfield by three freelance bounty hunters.

Now, the victim of mistaken identity, Richard Allen Sexton, has sued.

The suit, filed this month in Jackson County Circuit Court, names the three bounty hunters -- all referred to as "John Doe," because Sexton does not know their names. Other defendants are Missouri Bail Bonding Co.; its co-owner and agent, Tommy Bays, of Camdenton; and another agent, Richard Larson, of Springfield.

Sexton, a 45-year-old designer at Hallmark Cards Inc., said the ordeal began shortly before 7 p.m. on July 27 when the bounty hunters showed up at his home. Though Sexton pointed out that his Social Security number was different from that of the wanted man, he was handcuffed and thrown into a pickup truck.

It was not the first time Sexton had been confused with the other man, Richard Alan Sexton. Two years ago, it took the help of attorney Maurice Watson, a friend of Richard Allen Sexton, to convince a collection company it had the wrong man.

Sexton hoped to call Watson from the downtown police station and clear up the confusion. But the bounty hunters told him he had to pay a $500 bond in Springfield and go to jail.

Eventually, Sexton convinced the bounty hunters to call his attorney. Watson, who was home watching television when he received the call, explained the situation to the bounty hunters.

But it still took numerous calls to the bonding agent, along with Springfield police and the Greene County sheriff, before the bounty hunters turned around.

In the midst of the ordeal, Sexton found a photo and description of the wanted man on the floor of the pickup truck.

The other Sexton, convicted in 2000 of fraudulent use of a credit card, was described as having a full head of hair, being almost 6 feet tall and weighing 225 pounds. Richard Allen Sexton is bald, stands about 5-foot-8 and weighs 175 pounds.

"It didn't look anything like me," he said.

Bays, of the bonding company, blamed what happened on improper actions by three freelance bounty hunters who did not work for his company. Bays said his agents actually saved Sexton by doing computer work and convincing the bounty hunters they had the wrong person.

Freelance bounty hunters typically work for a share of the bond value.

Attorney Arthur A. Benson II, who is handling Sexton's lawsuit, said he expects to learn the names of the three bounty hunters and who sent them.

Without legal pressure, Benson said, "Nobody is going to take responsibility for this."