RACINE, Wis. - A judge imposed $50,000 cash bond Friday for a man accused of cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet to ride by limousine to Chicago and be on "The Jerry Springer Show." Defense lawyer Margaret Johnson argued against the high bond, noting that Mario Sims, 21, of Racine, is already being held on $20,000 cash bond on a bail jumping charge.

She said a second bond was unnecessary, but Racine County Circuit Judge Emily Mueller disagreed.

"A significant bond is legally necessary given the fact he absconded, admittedly for one of the more unique reasons I've heard in my time on the bench," the judge said before Sims was taken to Racine County Jail.

Sims had been freed on a signature bond of $50,000 after repeated delays of his trial on charges filed in 2004 of child enticement and first-degree sexual assault of a child.

According to court records, Sims was out of jail about three weeks when he cut off the bracelet and missed a court date Sept. 6.

His defense attorney at the time, Domingo Cruz, told the judge his client was seen getting into the television show's limousine.

The judge then issued a warrant for his arrest.

Sims appeared on an episode of the show aired last fall.

A TV.com Web site teaser for it said: "Outrageous nuptials! Returning guest Mario is a proud father and is ready to marry his baby's mother - who's also his half-sister ...."

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sims next Thursday on the bail jumping charge.

The 2004 case remains pending. A prosecutor said the primary witnesses had moved to Indianapolis and had not yet been contacted about proceeding with the case.

A message The Associated Press left Friday night for Johnson, seeking further comment, was not immediately returned.

Goosey's imaginings...

I guess this kind of puts a crimp in the producers' efforts to complete their "How to avoid your home arrest so you can go on TV and tell the world about your ho and beat that fool down that done stole her" self-help kit they send to potential guests.

I actually thought this was one of the pre-requisites on the screening questionnaire they had...

Labels: bizarre, comedy, dumb criminals, funny, funny news, Jerry Springer, odd, oddball humor, racine man cuts off bracelet, Springer, strange, weird