An American tourist who was facing up to 12 years in jail in Turks and Caicos for having 20 rounds of ammunition in his luggage was released Friday.
May 24 An American tourist who was facing up to 12 years in jail in Turks and Caicos for having 20 rounds of ammunition in his luggage was released Friday.
Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania was one of five Americans facing ammunition charges in the British territory. He was arrested in February while vacationing with his wife and two children.
Hagerich pleaded guilty to possessing 20 rifle rounds, which were found in his checked bag by Turks and Caicos authorities. He spent eight nights in jail but was released on bail.
At his sentencing hearing, Judge Tanya Lobban Jackson of the nation’s Supreme Court sentenced him to 52 weeks suspended, which means he will not serve any jail time. He will have to pay a $6,700 fine.
Jackson said Hagerich’s case had «exceptional circumstances» and cited the impact his arrest had on his daughter and the fact that he had no prior criminal history.
Hagerich said the rounds were used for hunting, and he didn’t know he had them in his travel bag.
