An American father, Ryan Watson, 40, finds himself in a precarious legal situation, facing the possibility of a 12-year prison sentence in Turks and Caicos.
This situation arose after authorities discovered ammunition in his luggage upon his return from a vacation with his wife.
Ryan Watson from Oklahoma is facing a potential mandatory minimum prison sentence of 12 years in Turks and Caicos, after four rounds of hunting ammo were found in his bag by the country’s airport security.
He is one of at least eight Americans facing prison time. pic.twitter.com/TMa3DVjMT1
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 24, 2024
The Daily Mail reports that Watson, who was arrested on April 11, endured an extended stay on the island, accompanied by his wife, Valerie, 38. In a recent turn of events, Valerie witnessed the dropping of charges against her on Monday, granting her permission to reunite with their two young children back home.
She endured 11 days facing charges alongside her husband, but had her charges dropped April 22.
The outlet details the sequence of events that unfolded as the Oklahoma couple proceeded through airport security.
The unraveling began when a small bag containing bullets, neatly packed in a zip-lock bag, was discovered in Ryan’s luggage upon their return trip, a detail that American TSA overlooked during their initial departure.
Authorities detected four rounds of hunting ammunition concealed in Ryan’s carry-on baggage. Both Ryan and Valerie maintain that the presence of the ammunition was inadvertent, with Valerie expressing to CBS News, “We were trying to pack board shorts and flip flops. Packing ammunition was not at all our intent.”
Ryan expressed in an interview prior to his initial court appearance, “My heart sank as soon as I saw the bullets.” He admitted recognizing them from a recent hunting expedition, lamenting, “I had no idea that those were in there.”
The couple’s pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears as officials dismissed Ryan’s assertion of an “innocent mistake.”
Authorities in Turks and Caicos reiterated the gravity of the offense, citing stricter laws implemented in 2022, which stipulated a minimum 12-year sentence for ammunition possession.
Release Ryan Watson now as a gesture of diplomatic goodwill. Ryan’s already been away from his family over 4 bullets he didn’t intentionally bring in his bag.
His fine will be paid. Release him home before you lose a lot of tourism $ over jailing an American for this.
Everyone… https://t.co/UcY9t6HmIz
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 24, 2024
Valerie, visibly distraught, tearfully revealed her immediate terror upon learning of the mandatory sentence, fearing the prospect of being separated from their children for over a decade.
The emotional reunion with her children, captured by cameras on Tuesday, served as a poignant moment for Valerie, albeit tinged with sorrow as her husband’s legal predicament remains unresolved.
An American tourist visiting Turks and Caicos with his family has been jailed for carrying hunting ammunition in his carry-on bag. Instead of paying fines, a new island law now imposes potential prison time for tourists possessing firearms or ammunition. pic.twitter.com/gb6lKYjUx5
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 23, 2024
“I’ve been thinking about this moment for a while, and I didn’t know when it was going to happen,” she shared with KOCO.
Valerie, alongside influential Oklahoma figures such as Governor Kevin Stitt and Senator Markwayne Mullin, continues to advocate for Ryan’s cause.
Stitt, in a letter to Turks and Caicos officials, emphasized Ryan’s character as an “avid outdoorsman,” portraying the incident as an oversight rather than a deliberate transgression.
Mullin’s office affirmed their engagement with the Watson family, actively pursuing avenues for Ryan’s return home.
I’ll take your islands off my bucket list, disgusting what you’re doing to an American father.
— Mark Lettau (@lettau_mark) April 24, 2024
Valerie finds solace in faith amidst the uncertainty, remarking, “We know that God’s still working and he’s working through us.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family. It has currently received over $150,000 of its $250,000 goal, and provides timely updates about the couple.
An April 24 update shares, “Ryan spent the last two nights in jail. Today they had a bail hearing and fortunately he was able to make bail. He is awaiting the next court appearance scheduled June 7th.”
The post American Stuck In Turks and Caicos Jail After Airport Staff Found Ammo In His Luggage appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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