Mexican Judge Hands Down Devastating Orders to U.S. Marine Imprisoned On Gun Charges

AmandaShea 07/10/2014Gun Control, News, Politics, World New

The U.S. Marine, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who has been held in a Mexican prison on weapons charges has been ordered back to prison by a Mexican judge, after his first full court appearance Wednesday.
Mexican authorities are standing by their decision to move forward with prosecuting him for entering the country with military-grade firearms, contending not knowing their laws does not exempt him from them.
Tahmooressi has now been imprisoned in Mexico for a total of 101 days, with little American action to retrieve him, except for a letter sent Wednesday by a group of U.S. bipartisan lawmakers requesting his immediate return.  The news of Mexico’s decision to prosecute him was released that same day. 
The 26-year-old veteran of two tours in Afghanistan, who was being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to his combat, says he accidentally crossed a California border checkpoint late March 31 and could not turn around before reaching the Mexican government checkpoint. Tahmooressi had been in San Diego for treatment related to his PTSD and had all his possessions in his car, after having just moved from Florida.  At the checkpoint, he declared his three-registered weapons to agents at the border, however Mexican authorities chose to charge him with violating their gun laws regardless.
The letter sent by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) had offered her hope, to Tahmooressi’s mother, Jill Tahmooressi.  Lawmakers stated in that letter to Mexican officials that they believe the 26-year-old veteran accidentally crossed the border, just as Andrew had claimed. It even cites a last-ditch 911 call made by the Marine as evidence to prove the turn was accidental.

“One of the most compelling pieces of evidence is a 911 call Andrew made at the border checkpoint, where he stated that he was unaware of his location,” the letter said. “It’s also important to take into account that Andrew was new to the San Diego area, without permanent housing, and had many of his possessions in his car. Like many of those new to the area, he was unfamiliar with the often confusing roads along the border and was unable to turn around before entering Mexico.”

On Wednesday, the Marine made his first official courtroom in front of a judge. It was not immediately clear what he said during the private hearing, but his lawyer Fernando Benitez said he was confident things were headed in the right direction, despite the judge’s order to keep him imprisoned, Fox News reported.
Following the hearing, Tahmooressi was escorted by heavily-armed guards back to El Hongo Prison in Tecate, according to Fox News.
Jill Tahmooressi said she also received a letter Monday from U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Anthony Wayne, saying “he was monitoring the situation and that the local consulate has been supporting Andrew.”

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