Quaids’ Santa Barbara Bail Bondsman Loses $1 Million

Two months after the initial appeal, the American Surety Company was denied its request to have the Santa Barbara bail bonds for Randy and Evi Quaid exonerated.

The bond company is now out the $1 million bail it posted on behalf of the Quaid’s over a year ago. The couple was arrested in September 2010 for illegally living in a property they used to own in Santa Barbara County. They claimed that they were still the rightful owners of the home. While in the home, the couple moved furniture around, broke a mirror, and carved “RQ” into the mailbox.

The couple was charged with vandalism, unauthorized entry of a dwelling, and resisting or obstructing a police officer. American Surety Company posted the $50,000 bonds for each of the Quaid’s. The couple was released and their court date was set for the following month. They failed to return to court for their hearing and three other subsequent hearings.

Bench warrants were issued for their arrest when they missed the first court hearing and the DA requested that the bail amount be increased to $500,000 for each of them when the couple was arrested in Canada.

The DA filed a request to have the couple extradited from Canada but was denied.

The American Surety Company was denied the return of their $1 million when Judge Ochoa ruled that bail can be forfeited if the defendant fails to appear in court without sufficient excuse. The bond company’s attorney tried to argue that the bonds were not valid since the couple was not in custody when it was posted.

There is still a warrant in place for the Quaid’s’ arrest.

---