LV bail bond company fights to keep its license

Brian Seals

Monday, June 29, 1998 | 11:44 a.m.

All Star Bonding Inc. and four of its bail bond agents are fighting to keep their Nevada licenses, which the state wants to suspend because of complaints by customers they were improperly intimidated at gunpoint.

The Division of Insurance suspended the company's license this month, along with the licenses of bail agents Angela D. Mayfield, James L. Lyon, Nathan Maldonado and George Garcia.

But Judge Nancy Becker last week stayed the revocations and ordered state Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman to take another look at the case. A hearing is set for Tuesday.

The company had filed a request in Clark County District Court to have its license remain in effect until an administrative hearing July 13.

Becker's order allowed Mayfield and the company to get back in business but did not address he status of the other agents, said Christopher Money, counsel for the Insurance Division.

Money said Molasky-Arman may rescind the revocation for some of the agents but leave other suspensions intact at Tuesday's hearing.

Attempts to contact All Star's lawyer, Dominic Gentile, Friday failed.

The Insurance Division suspended All Star's license based on allegations by two clients they were improperly threatened at gunpoint. All Star counters it had legal and contractual basis for its actions. A court hearing is set for Tuesday.

"The respondent commissioner's finding that the public safety and welfare imperatively require the petitioner's license be summarily suspended pending revocation proceedings is entirely lacking in factual or legal support," the company's filing stated.

The suspension stems from cases involving Max Guitierrez and Ricky Lee Grundy.

The state's complaint said Maldonado forced his way into an apartment where Guitierrez was and placed a gun to the back of his head before taking him into custody and taking him to jail. The state complaint maintains Guitierrez had fulfilled his obligations to the company, though All Star disputes that.

All Star maintains a check paid on behalf of Guitierrez bounced and he failed to appear in court March 23, giving agents the basis to take him into custody.

Grundy maintains he had met obligations but that he was threatened with jail if he didn't sign two vehicle transfer powers of attorney. Grundy accuses Maldonado of pointing a gun at him.

But All Star contends Grundy failed to appear for court hearings and did not maintain contact with the company for a six-week period. Again, the company contends the actions do not justify license revocation.