An Oklahoma man credited his religion with serving to his household get by way of a “concerning” state of affairs in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the place he confronted 12 years in jail when 4 stray bullets have been discovered in his baggage, he instructed “Fox and Friends” after returning home.
Ryan Watson, 40, from Edmond, was arrested in April on the nation’s major airport and was detained after he unintentionally left the ammunition inside his carry-on bag.Â
After months of negotiations, which concerned a bipartisan congressional delegation flying to Turks and Caicos in May, Watson obtained a suspended 13-week jail sentence and a high-quality of $2,000 – or $500 per bullet – on Friday, in response to household spokesman Jonathan Franks.
TURKS AND CAICOS BACKTRACKS ON AMMUNITION LAW THAT LANDED AMERICAN TOURISTS BEHIND BARS
Ryan Watson kisses his spouse, Valerie Watson, exterior of court docket in Turks and Caicos, Friday, June 21, 2024. The Oklahoma man who was going through 12 years in jail in Turks and Caicos after authorities discovered stray bullets in his baggage. (Jonathan Franks/LUCID Strategies)
Watson and his spouse Valerie appeared on “Fox and Friends” Tuesday, once they praised their religion and native lawmakers for serving to to get him home.
“Our faith is so strong, I don’t know if we would have made it through any other way,” Valerie stated. “I mean the Lord definitely carried us through, and we saw him working in every single aspect, from the very beginning of this entire thing.”
The couple stated Oklahoma Sens. Markwayne Mullin and James Lankford, together with Gov. Kevin Stitt, have been instrumental in securing Ryan’s launch and return.Â
“They all worked around the clock that very first weekend, and they didn’t stop until Ryan set foot back in Oklahoma,” Valerie stated. “So they worked really hard for us. And, you know, Senator Mullin put together the congregational delegation and it was really effective. I think it put a lot of pressure on TCI to kind of rethink some of the ways that they were handling things down there on the island.”
Watson stated he had taken the bag on a searching journey to Texas final fall however doesn’t recall ever placing the bullets in the bag. He stated the bullets have been discovered beneath a lining in his bag.
“I didn’t realize it, but that duffel bag has a lining, zips out, and they somehow managed to get underneath that lining,” Watson stated. He didn’t have a gun on him and beforehand instructed Fox News Digital he had no intention of bringing ammunition on his trip.
The island nation has strict guidelines and stiff penalties for these carrying ammunition. There is not any constitutional proper to hold firearms in Turks and Caicos, and the legislation prohibits anybody from conserving, carrying, discharging or utilizing an unlicensed firearm or ammunition.Â
Watson stated it was scary to suppose he was going through 12 years in jail.
“None of it made sense….. it got real concerning real quick,” he instructed “Fox and Friends.”
He additionally thanked his religion when talking to reporters on Friday.
“This is such an answered prayer… I’ve prayed for this for 70 days now,” Watson stated. “To see God working this way, it’s pretty incredible.”Â
Ryan instructed “Fox and Friends” Tuesday that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) later admitted it failed to identify the bullets on his means out of the U.S. Watson criticized the U.S. Embassy in Turks and Caicos and stated that it didn’t assist him.
From left to proper, Valerie Watson stands subsequent to her husband, Ryan Watson, who holds his passport as he poses together with his mother, Susan Fendley, and stepfather, Terry Fendley, in Turks and Caicos on Friday, June 21, 2024. Ryan Watson was detained for possessing ammunition in the island nation. (Jonathan Franks/LUCID Strategies)
“They did nothing… and it really revealed to me that there are probably many other families that are affected abroad that are not receiving any aid or care from the State Department, as we speak.”
A State Department spokesperson beforehand instructed Fox News Digital that the State Department, in addition to U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, make the security and safety of U.S. residents abroad their highest precedence.
Whenever a U.S. citizen is detained in a international nation, the State Department seeks speedy entry to go to that individual, the spokesperson stated.
When a U.S. citizen is arrested abroad, the State Department stands prepared to supply all applicable consular help, the spokesperson stated, including that U.S. residents are usually topic to a international nation’s legal guidelines once they journey there, even when these legal guidelines differ from these in the U.S.Â
Due to privateness issues, the State Department didn’t present additional touch upon the Americans lately arrested in Turks and Caicos.
After the sentencing, the choose urged American vacationers sure for Turks and Caicos to double-check their baggage and requested the TSA to display outgoing vacationers.
Watson is one in every of not less than 5 Americans arrested this 12 months who have been arrested for violating Turks and Caicos’ ammunition legislation.
The nation’s parliament agreed unanimously this month to revise the brand new ordinance after “a great deal of flacking” from American lawmakers, the nation’s Newsline TCI reported.
“This legislative change is a critical step in ensuring our legal system is both just and flexible,” the parliament’s opposition chief Edwin Astwood instructed The Sun TCI, one other native paper. “It acknowledges that not all cases are alike and that our judges must have the ability to consider all factors and impose sentences that are truly just and appropriate.”
He stated the objective is to uphold the rule of legislation — but additionally to distinguish between real threats and individuals who make a mistake.
Five Americans have been arrested in Turks and Caicos since February for carrying ammo in airports on the island. From left to proper: Michael Lee Evans (no photograph), Bryan Hagerich, Tyler Wenrich, Ryan Watson and Sharitta Grier. (Turks and Caicos Police/ Dimitrios Kambouris )
The different Americans charged below the ordinance embody Bryan Hagerich, a 39-year-old Pennsylvania father of two and former skilled baseball participant, who got here home after greater than 100 days in jail after the court docket agreed to high-quality him $6,500 and keep away from jail.
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Texas’ Michael Lee Evans, 72, pleaded responsible to possessing seven rounds of ammunition, in response to The Sun TCI. He was nonetheless awaiting sentencing however had been allowed to return to the U.S. on account of a severe sickness, in response to authorities.
Virginia’s Tyler Wenrich was freed in May after paying a $10,000 high-quality. Sharitta Grier, of Florida, can be awaiting her sentencing.
Fox News’ Audrey Conklin and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
