Three U.S. governors on Tuesday called on authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the “swift release” of three Americans recently charged with having ammunition in their luggage while vacationing in the tropical British territory. Ta.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt request Turks and Caicos Islands Governor Dilini Daniel Selvaratnam in a letter to drop ammunition charges against their respective residents. did.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin was one of three governors to ask for the charges to be dropped. AP
Brian Hagerich of Pennsylvania, Tyler Wenrich of Virginia, and Ryan Watson of Oklahoma were all arrested at different times while vacationing in the archipelago in February.
The minimum sentence for carrying ammunition in the Turks and Caicos Islands is 12 years, but all three claim they were negligent.
Hagerich, 39, Wenrich, 31, and Watson, 40, also did not carry firearms during the sunny vacation that turned into a nightmare. The governors noted that the ammunition they had was legal in the United States.
“As governors, we understand and appreciate that compliance with local laws and regulations is critical for the protection of our residents,” the three governors said in a letter shared with the Post. I mentioned it in.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also signed a letter asking Turks and Caicos to show “mercy” to the three men. AP
“We humbly ask your government, in its wisdom, to temper justice with mercy and recognize that these people made a mistake but had no obvious malice.
Democrat Shapiro and Republicans Youngkin and Stitt added, “We respectfully request that these charges be reconsidered and that they be released as soon as possible and returned to their states and families.”
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said the damage to the men far outweighs the crime. Brian Terry/The Oklahoman/USA TODAY NETWORK
Stitt told Fox News that the potential punishment for the three tourists does not fit the crime.
“These people were trying to get out of the country. There was no intention. They weren’t trying to hurt anyone,” Stitt said. “They didn’t use guns. I want everyone to know, there were no guns.”
Watson and his wife Valerie, parents of two young children, were on the island for a friend’s 40th birthday when they were both detained, but Valerie was later released. He will appear in court again next month.
Hagerich, a father of two, was arrested and charged in February and appeared for a hearing as recently as last Friday, WPIX reported. He will remain stranded on the island for at least three more weeks until he is sentenced.
Both men have already pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition.
Ryan Watson could face 12 years in prison for his mistake.Turks and Caicos Islands Police Department
Wenrich, the father of a 1-year-old boy, was arrested on April 20 after two 9mm bullets were discovered in his bag as he tried to return to his Royal Caribbean cruise ship, NBC 10 Boston reported. Reported. He appeared in court this week for a judicial hearing scheduled for next week, WTVR reported.
Another American tourist was arrested Monday at an airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands after ammunition was allegedly found in his luggage, CBS News reported.
According to reports, a 72-year-old Texas man was arrested on similar charges in December and pleaded guilty in April. His sentencing is scheduled for June.
Turks and Caicos Islands officials will implement the strict law in 2022, and the U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued an advisory last year warning Americans to leave ammunition behind when traveling to the popular vacation spot. .
