A US father-of-two arrested in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was found in his luggage has avoided jail time and is set to be sent home imminently, his lawyer has said.
Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, has been given a suspended sentence of 52 weeks. His lawyer said he was expected to repatriated “by dinner time.”
Mr Hagerich was one of several Americans facing a potential minimum sentence of 12 years in prison on ammunition charges in the British territory.
On Friday, a jduge found the case had exceptional circumstances and the lengthy sentence would be arbitrary, according to spokesperson for the British islands Jonathan Franks. He will also have to pay a $6,700 fine, Mr Franks said.
Mr Hagerich was arrested in February while returning home from a family vacation after ammunition was found in his checked luggage. He pleaded guilty to possession of 20 rounds of ammunition.
In an interview with ABC News earlier this month he said he was “a man of integrity, character.”
“I did not have intent in this,” he told the outlet.
Prior to his hearing, Mr Hagerich had been living with Ryan Watson – also a father-of-two, who is also facing similar charges of ammunition possession. The men had been living in an Airbnb on the island with Mr Watson’s parents, The Indpendent understands.
Mr Watson, who was arrested after attempting to return from a 40th birthday celebration on the island in April, faces trial in June. His wife, Valerie Watson, was also arrested but later released and allowed to return to Oklahoma to be with their children, Ellie, seven, and Van, nine.
Mr Watson previously told The Independent that he would be attending Mr Hagerich’s trial to support him. He also said that due to the similarities to his own situation he felt as though he was also on trial.
“We’re gonna be in that courtroom supporting him as best we can,” he said. “My mom has adopted him as one of her own,” Mr Watson said.
As well as Mr Hagerich and the Watsons, three other American citizens have been detained in recent months on charges relating to ammunition possession: Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas; and Tyler Scott Wenrich, 31, of Virginia.
A fifth American, Sharitta Shanise Grier, 45, of Orlando, Florida, was arrested Monday last week during a routine search at the airport, the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police said.
She was charged with one count of possession of ammunition and was due back in court in July, the release said.
The British territory significantly tightened its gun laws in 2022 following a jump in gun violence and weapons trafficking. The strict penalties were meant to protect the community by deterring gun crimes, the government has said.
In gun and ammunition cases, courts have sentencing discretion for “exceptional circumstances,” but they cannot limit punishment to a fine with no prison term, the country’s Court of Appeal ruled in February. That means the Americans may not get 12 years in prison, but they also likely won’t be able to pay a fine and return home.
