The U.S. attorney's office will probably appeal last week's decision allowing Duane "Dog" Chapman and two others to be free on bond pending extradition hearings to send them back to Mexico to face illegal detention charges.

Larry Butrick, assistant U.S. attorney in charge of criminal cases for the U.S. attorney's office, said "in all likelihood," the office will appeal, but he wants to wait for the return tomorrow of Ronald Johnson, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case who is out sick.

The appeal would be filed with a U.S. district judge here.

Chapman, 53, star of the popular A&E reality show "Dog the Bounty Hunter"; his son Leland Chapman, 29; and Timothy Chapman (no relation), 41, were arrested by federal marshals Thursday morning on an extradition warrant requested by the Mexican government.

The three are wanted in Mexico to face charges related to their capture three years ago of fugitive and convicted rapist Andrew Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The charges carry potential sentences ranging from six months to four years, lawyers in the case said.

The extradition hearings are expected to span months and could spill over into next year, according to the lawyers.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren, who signed the warrant, released the three Friday afternoon. Duane Chapman posted $300,000 bond and the other two $100,000 each. In addition, the three were ordered confined to their homes except for business reasons while working with Duane Chapman's Da Kine Bail Bonds or on the television series.

Court papers submitted in the case recently unsealed outlined many of the arguments made Friday before Kurren.

Attorney Brook Hart, who represents the Chapmans, provided backgrounds on all three to show that they have strong ties with the community here and would not flee.

Duane Chapman, Hart said, has lived in Honolulu since 1989 and resides at his Portlock home with his wife, Beth Chapman, 38; five of his children; two of his grandchildren; and a stepson.

Duane Chapman and his wife own Da Kine Bail Bonds, Hart said. If the three aren't released, they would be prevented from supporting themselves and their families and won't be able to fulfill their contractual obligations to the A&E cable network, which airs the series.

On behalf of the Mexican government, Johnson said he was asking that the three be held without bail.

He argued the status of the three as reality television figures should not set them apart from any other person who has a job and faces extradition.

Johnson said the ability to deliver fugitives through extradition proceedings has "significant international law implications."

He said the United States expects its fugitives to be returned just as other countries expect the United States to deliver their fugitives.

"This obviously cannot be fulfilled if fugitives like (the Chapmans) flee after being released on bond," he said.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.