Is bounty hunter dogged by injustice?

In an unusual twist of fate, TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman now faces charges for the capture of Andrew Luster, the Max Factor heir turned serial rapist.

One of Luster's victims and her Agoura Hills attorney don't quite understand the logic and are trying to come to Chapman's rescue.

When Luster jumped bail and fled to Mexico three years ago, Chapman and his television costars (son Leland and brother Tim) tracked and arrested Luster and brought him back to the U.S. where he faced a 124-year prison term for drugging and raping at least 15 women.

But bounty hunting is a crime in Mexico and officials in that country now want Chapman returned to face charges of illegal detention and conspiracy in Luster's capture. The statute of limitations for Chapman's extradition expires in January.

Chapman is under house arrest at his home in Hawaii.

One victim, who asked to be called Tonja Doe for the purposes of this article, is fighting back by raising money online for Chapman's legal defense. Doe was featured on an A&E two-hour special called, "Dog, the Family Speaks Out." She also appeared on an MSNBC morning show with anchor Rita Cosby.

So far, the 33-year-old woman and her attorney, Bill Daniels of Agoura Hills, have raised about $20,000 for Chapman's defense. Their goal is to raise at least $500,000.

Doe, a resident of Ventura, was among the many women identified through videotapes made by Luster after he drugged raped and tortured them at his Oxnard home.

Doe, who lived with Luster for about three months, said she was contacted by the District Attorney's office four years after she broke up with the cosmetics company heir. Videotapes were confiscated from Luster's home and Doe was identified as one of the victims.

"I didn't think he was dangerous, I just thought he was an obsessed ex-boyfriend," Doe said about Luster when he stalked her after their breakup. "I didn't realize I was raped. I never even heard of such a crime."

During Luster's trial it was revealed he would spike women's drinks and rape and torture them while they were unconscious. He burned Doe with cigarettes and candles and narrated the abuse on videotape. Doe said one tape revealed Luster brandishing a sword, "pretending he was going to gut me," she said.

Doe testified against Luster, which helped lead to his conviction.

Daniels said Chapman found Luster in Mexico living next door to a police station. Luster's capture led to Chapman's hit television show, "Dog, the Bounty Hunter."

"They truly helped me, he literally saved my life," Doe said of Chapman and fellow bounty hunters.

Daniels credits Doe as the force behind the fundraising effort.

"I frankly think she's incredibly brave coming out and speaking out the way she is," Daniels said. "She's been through a tremendous ordeal. . . and felt it was appropriate to help with him."

Chapman was arrested by U.S. officials and brought to federal court in Honolulu. A hearing sceduled for next month will determine whether he and his son and brother will be extradited to Mexico or if the trial will be conducted in California or Honolulu.

"What we're saying is come on everybody, let's use a little common sense here," Daniels said regarding Chapman's arrest and the possibility of his serving time in jail.

The website for Chapman's legal defense fund is www.dogdefensefund.com, or write to The Dog's Legal Defense Fund, 5776-D Lindero Canyon Road, Box 397, Westlake Village, CA 91362.