Watson is back home, but her husband Ryan Watson is in jail on the island. He could get a required minimum sentence of 12 years in prison because earlier this month, airport security supposedly found four rounds of hunting ammunition in his carry-on bag.
Eva Watson told CBS News, “We were trying to pack board shorts and flip-flops.” “Packing ammunition was not at all our intent.”
It was Sunday when Valerie Watson found out she would not be charged and would be able to go back home. She said the trip “went from what was supposed to be a dream vacation to a nightmare.”
There are other people going through the same thing as the Watsons.
Bryan Hagerich is waiting to go to court because guns were found in his checked bag in February.
So, I spent eight nights in their local jail after that. The worst and saddest times of my life, to be honest, Hagerich said. “These last 70 days have been kind of a roller coaster, just the pain and suffering of having your family at home and I am here.”
In Turks and Caicos, it is illegal to have a gun or ammo, but tourists used to be able to get away with just paying a fine. In February, though, a court order said that anyone could go to jail, even tourists who were just leaving the country.
Since November 2022, eight cases involving guns and ammo have been brought against American tourists. Three of these cases are currently before the court, and all three suspects are out on bail.
A judge in Indiana said Michael Grim had “exceptional circumstances” when he admitted last year that he had ammo in his checked bag by accident. I think he was in jail for almost six months.
“No drinking water that runs clean. “The environment is kind of there all the time,” he told CBS News. “There are real worries about mosquitoes and tropical diseases. There are people in jail who are nasty.”
The judge wanted to wake up other Americans.
“[His] sentencing was completely predicated on the fact that I was an American,” he said.
In September, the U.S. government put out an online travel alert telling people to “check your luggage for stray ammunition” and saying that they would “not be able to secure your release from custody.”
A spokesman for the State Department told CBS News, “We are aware that U.S. citizens have been arrested in Turks and Caicos.” When a U.S. person is jailed abroad, we are ready to offer all the necessary diplomatic support. U.S. people must follow the laws of the country they are visiting, even if they are different from U.S. rules.
During airport security checks last year, the TSA found a record 6,737 guns. Most of them were loaded.
“I can not even begin to think that this very innocent, regrettable mistake would prevent me from being able to watch my son graduate or teach him to shave or take my daughter to dances,” he added. “I can not even imagine it.” “I do not—I am unable to comprehend it.”
In a long statement to CBS News, the Turks and Caicos government confirmed the rule and said again that the judge has to order jail time even if there are special circumstances.