American arrested on Turks and Caicos Islands for carrying ammunition receives 13-week suspended sentence

A third American who arrested on the Turks and Caicos Islands In recent months, he was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 13 weeks in prison and a fine of $2,000 for possession of ammunition, his spokesman said on social media on Friday.

Ryan Watson of Oklahoma had pleaded guilty and faced prison for four rounds of ammunition found in his carry-on luggage when he and his wife visited the British territory earlier this year.

Watson was on security deposit For weeks, while his case went through the islands’ legal system, but he was not allowed to return to his wife Valerie Watson and their two children in the USA until his case was resolved.

According to spokesman Jonathan Franks, the judge concluded that there were exceptional circumstances in this case and that the long sentence would be arbitrary.

“We will make payment shortly, leave TCI and expect to be back home in OKC tonight,” Franks tweeted Friday.

Watson was arrested on April 12 when four rounds of hunting ammunition were found in his carry-on luggage as the couple attempted to fly home from a vacation. Valerie Watson was allowed to return to the United States without charges being filed against her.

Ryan Watson told CBS News in April that he regretted the ordeal and had no intention of violating any of the island’s laws.

“There was no intention behind it, it was 100 percent a mistake and an accident,” Watson said.

Two other Americans arrested under similar circumstances were convicted last month. Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania received a suspended sentence and a $6,700 fine for possession of 20 rifle cartridges found in his checked luggage on a family vacation. Tyler Wenrich of Virginia was sentenced to imprisonment and a $9,000 fine for two 9mm cartridges found in his backpack as he attempted to board a cruise ship. Both men have returned to the United States

Hagerich and Wenrich would have faced a minimum sentence of twelve years in prison, but the courts concluded that there were exceptional circumstances in their cases, which led to a lighter punishment for the Americans.

Amid calls from members of the US Congress to show leniency to Americans, the island’s lawmakers have reconsidered the minimum sentence for weapons offenses. According to local news outlet The Sun, the House of Representatives voted on June 14 for a change that would give judges more discretion in sentencing if they find exceptional circumstances.

Grandmother from Florida The case of Sharitta Grier is still pending in the islands. She was arrested in May after two bullets were allegedly found in her carry-on luggage as she flew home from a surprise Mother’s Day vacation.

A fifth American, Michael Lee Evans of Texas, was allowed to return to the United States for medical reasons while being released on bail.