A federal magistrate in Honolulu has ordered that a bond remain in effect for TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman in connection with his year-old case fighting extradition to Mexico. Chapman and his wife, Beth, urged fans to protest the ruling.

A court in Mexico last month dismissed charges against Chapman and two associates, Tim Chapman and son Leland Chapman, in connection with the bounty hunter's capture of now-convicted rapist and Max Factor heir Andrew Luster. However, on Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren left the bond in effect. An appeal has been filed by the Mexican prosecutor in the case.

The three bounty hunters were arrested in September by U.S. marshals and jailed on an extradition warrant requested by Mexico.

Chapman, who was free on $300,000 bail, faced up to four years in a Mexican jail if convicted. His Mexican lawyer doubted he would get the maximum, saying last year that illegal detention was a relatively minor crime in Mexico and that if Chapman was convicted, he would likely only have to pay a fine of several hundred dollars.

Chapman and his wife issued a statement yesterday saying they were "devastated" by Kurren's decision, despite Mexico's full dismissal of charges.

"This is unacceptable," Beth Chapman said. "We are enlisting our fans and supporters to protest this action by our own government by calling and writing the Judge, Barry Kurren, and Attorney Ronald Johnson, as well as the President, Condoleezza Rice, your congressmen and women and state officials."

The Chapmans are touring the Mainland promoting his book, "You Can Run, But You Can't Hide."