American dad arrested on family vacation for having ammo in Turks and Caicos escapes jail time
A US father-of-two arrested in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was found in his luggage has narrowly 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 mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison on ammunition charges in the British territory.
On Friday, the judge found that the case had exceptional circumstances and that the lengthy sentence would be arbitrary, according to spokesperson Jonathan Franks. He will also have to pay a $6,700 fine, Mr Franks said.
2/ Bryan faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years for (inadvertent) possession of ammunition UNLESS the Judge finds exceptional circumstances. If she does, sentencing is effectively at-large.
We hope to leave Turks and Caicos today and repatriate Bryan by dinner time.— Jonathan Franks (@jonfranks) May 24, 2024
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.”
Prior to his hearing, Mr Hagerich had been living with Ryan Watson – also a father of two, and 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.
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