TVSquad

This week, the First Criminal Court in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico dismissed charges against Duane "Dog" Chapman, who was arrested in 2003 on charges of illegal detention after capturing Max Factor heir Andrew Luster. The arrest eventually led to the A&E series Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Last September, Mexican authorities requested Chapman, his son Leland and his work partner Tim Chapman (no relation) be extradited to Mexico to face charges of leaving the country instead of staying for their court date. Chapman has said in interviews that they left the country on the advice of their legal counsel.

Charges against all three men were dropped because the statute of limitations had run out. Prosecutors have until August 8 to appeal the case.

MSNBC broke the news first, reporting that federal marshalls had been called in to seize the men. Almost immediately, fans flocked around the reality show star to show their support, and so did some members of Congress. The men were in jail only briefly, then later sentenced to house arrest.