A Virginia man was sentenced to prison sentence and fined $9,000 for bringing ammunition into Turks and Caicos, avoiding a potential 12-year sentence under the islands’ strict gun laws.
Tyler Wenrich, of Richmond, traveled to Grand Turk on a cruise ship for a bachelor party in late April when ammunition was found in his possession while passing through a security checkpoint, police said.
The 911 operator and emergency medical technician has remained on the island since his arrest and pleaded guilty on May 21 to two counts of possession of ammunition, for two 9mm rounds.
A judge handed down a three-week prison sentence on Tuesday morning — which equates to time served considering the time Wenrich spent in jail following his arrest.
The 31-year-old father can return home after paying a $9,000 fine.
He and his wife, who was present for the sentencing, plan to return home Thursday, Wenrich told ABC News.
“I feel so, I’m just relieved,” he said after the sentencing. “A weight has been lifted off my shoulders and my wife’s.”
Wenrich has been separated from his 18-month-old son since his arrest.
“I’m happy to be able to go home and be with my son again,” he said.
Wenrich went shooting at a shooting range with friends and said he forgot he was carrying ammunition.
The penalty for traveling to Turks and Caicos with a firearm, ammunition or other weapon can result in a minimum sentence of 12 years in prison. However, the judge has the power to issue a more lenient sentence if the court considers that exceptional circumstances exist.
“I have a lot of fear and anxiety about what’s going to happen and I hope the judge finds some compassion and leniency in the situation I’m in,” Wenrich told ABC News earlier this month.
ABC News’ Matt Rivers and Wilkie Arthur contributed to this report.
American sentenced to prison and fined $9,000 for bringing ammunition to Turks and Caicos originally appeared in abcnews.go.com
