On Sat, 14 May 2016 16:27:42 -0500, Unquestionably Confused
wrote:

The number one thing you can do to protect yourself is to go to the
courthouse and check the court clerk's office and run their names
through the civil and criminal indices.

Still stuck in the 80s huh? Now days that is all on line in most
areas.
Start with the county sheriff/police and you can see if they were ever
arrested, then go to the court site and see if they were ever charged
with anything, if there are any law suits on record, liens or anything
else that involves the court. You can also find bankruptcies,
divorces, marriages and judgements.
All from the comfort of your La Z Boy