PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos – An American will no longer remain behind bars, a judge ruled Friday, after the Oklahoma resident was arrested in the islands with four rounds of ammunition in his luggage.
Judge Lobban Jackson sentenced 40-year-old Ryan Watson to prison and a $2,000 fine, or $500 for each round, which he paid shortly after court adjourned.
Watson left the islands and returned home to the United States at approximately 3:30 PM local time.
“So glad the judge took a holistic approach. It was still nerve-wracking knowing that the prosecution was still asking for a 12-year prison sentence,” a relieved Watson told reporters outside the court.
“I’m going to pay this fine, go home and see those kids,” Watson added.
Watson’s wife Valerie cried for joy as Judge Jackson ruled from the bench. His wife held the hand of Sharitta Grier, a Florida grandmother who was also recently arrested in the islands when she was found in possession of two bullets.
“The biggest feeling of relief is that moment I’ve been waiting for for a long time,” says wife Valerie Watson.
Watson was arrested in April during an escape on the island under the territory’s firearms law, raising the specter of a possible 12-year prison sentence.
Two other cases of Americans detained under similar conditions recently ended with judges granting leniency.
Ruling that there were exceptional circumstances that justified a sentence without jail time, Judge Jackson said 12 years behind bars would be “arbitrary and disproportionately” harsh.
The judge also said she had taken into account the testimony of more than a dozen character witnesses who vouched for Watson.
U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said Watson has “impeccable character” with a “history of service to his community,” including outreach activities for the homeless.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt described his constituency Watson as “unwavering in moral character.”
Watson said he is grateful for all his supporters, on the island and at home in the United States.
“Oklahoma has stepped up the way they’ve done this,” he said. “There are people on this island who have taken steps in ways that are beyond our understanding.”
Watson had several loved ones in the gallery to support him, including his wife, mother, stepfather, sister, brother-in-law and several friends.
Judge Jackson repeatedly mentioned the possibility of a 12-year prison sentence in her ruling, leaving loved ones on the edge of their seats.
When she finally handed down the suspended sentence, loved ones finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I want to jump for joy,” said Watson’s mother Susan Fendley. “I thought he was going to jail for 12 years.”
A smartly dressed Watson donned a suit and tie and wore a pocket square and tie clip during his time in court.
But minutes after court adjourned, he changed into a decidedly more Oklahoma look with jeans, a cowboy hat and boots.
Watson was arrested after a search of his duffel bag at the airport revealed a plastic bag containing four rounds of ammunition. Watson said it was for deer hunting and was accidentally left in the luggage.
It is illegal to possess ammunition in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a Caribbean archipelago and the British Overseas Territory, and the law had allowed a mandatory prison sentence of twelve years unless exceptional circumstances were found.
The government changed its law this week to abolish the mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years.
Even before that, Americans Bryan Hagerich and Tyler Wenrich were not sentenced to serve additional prison time after officials said they illegally brought bullets into the country. Hagerich received a suspended sentence and Wenrich was sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment.
Hagerich, a former Major League Baseball draftee from Pennsylvania, and Wenrich, a paramedic from Virginia, pleaded guilty to an ammunition charge.
In the cases of both men, a judge found exceptional circumstances when he refused to sentence them to prison terms.
A total of five Americans have been arrested in the territory since December on suspicion of carrying ammunition in violation of the law.
In the remaining cases, Sharitta Grier has pleaded guilty and is awaiting her sentencing hearing, which will take place next week. Michael Lee Evans also pleaded guilty but was not convicted. Neither is in jail. Evans was allowed to return to Texas for medical reasons.
Amid the media coverage, Prime Minister C. Washington Misick sought to assure the people of the US that the area appreciates visitors from around the world.
Misick said in a statement last month, before the mandatory 12-year prison sentence was removed from the law, that judges could use their discretion.
“In cases that occurred prior to the five cases that generated media attention, the mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years was never imposed by the Court because judges in each case determined that exceptional circumstances justified shorter sentences,” he said.
About 1 million people visit the Turks and Caicos Islands each year, he said, and about half of those are American.
Watson and his wife were among them. She and friends came here to celebrate his 40th birthday.
Watson and his wife, Valerie, were initially charged with possession of ammunition, but the charges against Valerie were dropped and she returned to Oklahoma City to be with their two children, ages 9 and 7.
A number of US lawmakers traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands last month to make their case for the release of the five Americans.
Juliette Arcodia reported from Providenciales, Phil Helsel from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
