Jailed Weston Marine’s mom heads to Mexico for hearing


The mother of Andrew Tahmooressi, the marine being held in a Mexican jail on weapons charges, is headed to Mexico to attend a hearing where her son is expected to tell a judge his side of the story.

Jill Tahmooressi told reporters, “I hope that the judge will consider it and discern the truth and release Andrew. He’s been just frighteningly abandoned for all these months and to have family present is definitely reassuring.”

The Marine’s plight started April 1, when he claims he accidently wound up at the California-Mexico border while traveling. According to NBC South Florida, at that time Mexican agents discovered three licensed weapons inside his truck.

“I said, ‘I have three guns,’ and I showed them where the guns were, and they checked out the guns, and I say, ‘I didn’t even mean to be in Mexico,” Tahmooressi said. “It’s a mistake for me to be here. Can I just go back to the border?’ Five minutes later, I was surrounded by like 20 military officials and police officers with guns watching me.”

He stands by his statement that the weapons are legal, and he had no intentions to commit any crimes.

NBC San Diego reported that the Marine reservist, who is from Weston and has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was in the San Diego area to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. He got lost near the border after dark and took a wrong turn into Mexico.

“He’s holding out as best as he can but I will say his PTSD has been exacerbated by this imprisonment, so he desperately needs to get back to America and continue on his course of treatment, he is a current Marine,” his mother said.

Jill Tahmooressi said she hopes the charges will be dropped at the hearing.

“I’m hoping that the judge will just dismiss the charges for what it is, an accidental entry, no intention to be on Mexico soil with his U.S. legally purchased firearms,” she said. “If I come back alone on my flight, it is going be devastating.”

Tahmooressi has the support of Florida elected officials, including Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Senator Marco Rubio. A White House petition has been started by his family and friends.

“I’m hoping for the best but planning for the worst,” Jill Tahmooressi said.

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