Turks and Caicos has released an American accused of bringing 20 rounds of ammunition in his luggage to the Caribbean islands, according to court documents released Friday.
Bryan Hagerich, a father of two from Pennsylvania, was arrested in February while on a family vacation. In Turks and Caicos – a British territory – firearms, weapons and stray bullets are prohibited.
Hagerich faced a 12-year sentence, the minimum in the country under its strict gun laws.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing on the island of Providenciales, Judge Tanya Lobban Jackson sentenced Hagerich to 52 weeks, but with “12 months suspended,” meaning he will not serve any prison time. NBC News reported.
The judge said she found exceptional circumstances for him, claiming he brought the ammunition involuntarily, that his detention had an impact on his daughter and that he had no criminal record, the outlet reported.
He can return home after making a payment of $6,700, according to the report.
After the trial, an emotional Hagerich said he was “absolutely elated” and couldn’t wait to return to his children.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for the last 101 days and to experience it here — in eight hours to be home and hug my kids — is the best day,” he said, according to NBC News, which had reporters in the courtroom.
He said he hopes to continue working for the other Americans who are detained on the island on similar charges.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was among a group of lawmakers who traveled to the island to lobby for the Americans’ release. He said in a statement Friday that it was an honor to meet with Hagerich and the others.
Fetterman said authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands recognized that Hagerich and the other Americans “are not arms dealers — they are just people who made a mistake.”
“I’m grateful that the judge recognized that the right thing to do was to send Bryan home,” he continued. in your statement. “I am also grateful to the U.S. Department of State, which has been a critical partner in bringing Bryan home.”
The freshman senator said he is hopeful that the government will expedite the other cases and that the detained Americans “will soon be released and also reunited with their families.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
