American Veteran of Iraq War Being Held in Mexican Prison on Weapons Charges

Scott Hamilton Robert E Ron Paul Lee · Apr 29, 2008

American Veteran of Iraq War Being Held in Mexican Prison on Weapons Charges

Monday , April 28, 2008

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An American veteran of the Iraq War is being held in a notoriously dangerous prison in Juarez, Mexico, charged with carrying weapons over the border in his car.
Army Spc. Richard Raymond Medina Torres, on leave from his base at Fort Hood, Tex., was arrested in Juarez April 21 when he said he mistakenly crossed the border and found himself on the Mexican side of the Bridge of the Americas.
Medina Torres, 25, told Mexican officials that he intended to park his car in El Paso and walk across the border for breakfast, but got lost on the highway and was forced to cross into Mexico.
According to the El Paso Times, Mexican border police stopped him as he attempted a U-turn, and Medina Torres was arrested when they found an AR-15 rifle and handgun in his trunk. The newspaper said that Medina Torres said he'd bought the guns years before and had all the proper permits. However possession of firearms in Mexico is illegal and strictly controlled.
"It’s a very sticky situation for foreigners to have weapons in Mexico," said a spokesman at the bureau of consular affairs at the State Department. "The laws are stricter and narrower there," he said.
Medina Torres, a helicopter mechanic, said he was on his way to Fresno, Calif., to visit his mother in time for her birthday Thursday. His mother told FOXNews.com that while on route, he wanted to make a pit stop for a Mexican breakfast, but instead got lost. That is when he was arrested, she said.
"It was his very first time," said Gloria Medina. "All he wanted was a good Mexican meal."
He never got his meal, and is now waiting in the infamous Cereso prison, a jail for some of Mexico's most violent drug smugglers, for a Mexican judge to decide his fate.
His mother said, “He told me ‘Mother, all I do is pray and sleep, pray and sleep.’”
Medina Torres was with charged with carrying weapons over the border in his car and an additional and much more serious charge of possession of a military-style weapon, which has since been dropped. If sentenced, Medina Torres could face from 3 to 10 years in prison, according to the El Paso Times.
But his mother said she is hopeful about prospect for his release. "I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic today because the consul [in Juarez] told me that they're optimistic, very positive" about his case.
The American consul in Juarez “has taken a special interest in my son’s case," she told FOXNews.com. "He told me, ‘He’s a fine young man and he’s a good son and a good soldier.'
“I asked him to take of my son (the consulate general) and he said that he would.”
According to the State Department spokesman, the U.S. military normally advocates for American soldiers who have been incarcerated abroad.
"In most cases overseas the military handles their own cases," the spokesman said. "In this case because he was probably on vacation, and by virtue of the fact that he’s incarcerated in Mexico, the consul is working the case."
Medina Torres enlisted in the Army in 2001. He had recently returned from a 15-month tour in Iraq, his mother told FOXNews.com. He also served in Korea, and while in Fresno had planned to request a transfer to Honduras.
“I’m optimistic, praying that the Lord will deliver him from this ordeal,” said Gloria Medina.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,352986,00.html

We feed that entire nation, and they do this? Burn their food in an suv I say!

oldfella1962 · Apr 29, 2008

The Mexicans will probably wonder why he was traveling to California with two guns in the trunk. Also, they will wonder how he got lost considering the signs are in English, which he must speak to be in The Army.

I would say he's deep in the "sucks to be you" zone.

Volpone · Apr 29, 2008

Eh. On one hand, if you live in and around the border, it is made clear that IN NO WAY should you EVER bring guns into Mexico. On the other hand, there have been a couple times where I could see how you could accidentally wind up going to the border. If it is anything like San Diego/Tijuana, if you miss the last exit you are going to Mexico. Your only option is to shut off your car and create a traffic jam. It's pretty well marked, but I could see someone getting confused and having it happen.

Something like this happened a few years back. There was a brouhaha, but it got sorted out. Hell, if we can get Dog the Bounty Hunter back, I'm sure we'll get this guy back.

shootER · Apr 29, 2008

People have served time in Mexican jails just for having loose rounds on the floorboard of their pickups or cars. No gun, just the ammo.

Scott Hamilton Robert E Ron Paul Lee · Apr 30, 2008

Good Lord. Let's get some Texans and liberate Mexico!

LizK · Apr 30, 2008

apostle83 said: ↑

American Veteran of Iraq War Being Held in Mexican Prison on Weapons Charges

Monday , April 28, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT

An American veteran of the Iraq War is being held in a notoriously dangerous prison in Juarez, Mexico, charged with carrying weapons over the border in his car.
Army Spc. Richard Raymond Medina Torres, on leave from his base at Fort Hood, Tex., was arrested in Juarez April 21 when he said he mistakenly crossed the border and found himself on the Mexican side of the Bridge of the Americas.
Medina Torres, 25, told Mexican officials that he intended to park his car in El Paso and walk across the border for breakfast, but got lost on the highway and was forced to cross into Mexico.
According to the El Paso Times, Mexican border police stopped him as he attempted a U-turn, and Medina Torres was arrested when they found an AR-15 rifle and handgun in his trunk. The newspaper said that Medina Torres said he'd bought the guns years before and had all the proper permits. However possession of firearms in Mexico is illegal and strictly controlled.
"It’s a very sticky situation for foreigners to have weapons in Mexico," said a spokesman at the bureau of consular affairs at the State Department. "The laws are stricter and narrower there," he said.
Medina Torres, a helicopter mechanic, said he was on his way to Fresno, Calif., to visit his mother in time for her birthday Thursday. His mother told FOXNews.com that while on route, he wanted to make a pit stop for a Mexican breakfast, but instead got lost. That is when he was arrested, she said.
"It was his very first time," said Gloria Medina. "All he wanted was a good Mexican meal."
He never got his meal, and is now waiting in the infamous Cereso prison, a jail for some of Mexico's most violent drug smugglers, for a Mexican judge to decide his fate.
His mother said, “He told me ‘Mother, all I do is pray and sleep, pray and sleep.’”
Medina Torres was with charged with carrying weapons over the border in his car and an additional and much more serious charge of possession of a military-style weapon, which has since been dropped. If sentenced, Medina Torres could face from 3 to 10 years in prison, according to the El Paso Times.
But his mother said she is hopeful about prospect for his release. "I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic today because the consul [in Juarez] told me that they're optimistic, very positive" about his case.
The American consul in Juarez “has taken a special interest in my son’s case," she told FOXNews.com. "He told me, ‘He’s a fine young man and he’s a good son and a good soldier.'
“I asked him to take of my son (the consulate general) and he said that he would.”
According to the State Department spokesman, the U.S. military normally advocates for American soldiers who have been incarcerated abroad.
"In most cases overseas the military handles their own cases," the spokesman said. "In this case because he was probably on vacation, and by virtue of the fact that he’s incarcerated in Mexico, the consul is working the case."
Medina Torres enlisted in the Army in 2001. He had recently returned from a 15-month tour in Iraq, his mother told FOXNews.com. He also served in Korea, and while in Fresno had planned to request a transfer to Honduras.
“I’m optimistic, praying that the Lord will deliver him from this ordeal,” said Gloria Medina.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Click to expand...

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,352986,00.html

We feed that entire nation, and they do this? Burn their food in an suv I say!
Click to expand...

You forgot to mention that any time any of their nationals get arrested for anything more than a misdemeanor we are supposed to release them to the Counsel and let them go back to Mexico to serve their sentence

Marso · Apr 30, 2008

Volpone said: ↑

Eh. On one hand, if you live in and around the border, it is made clear that IN NO WAY should you EVER bring guns into Mexico.
Click to expand...

Ironic, since the Mexico side of the border is one of those places I'd never want to be caught dead without a weapon. Just sayin'.

Scott Hamilton Robert E Ron Paul Lee · Apr 30, 2008

True.

I hope this guy is gonna get released.

Paladin · Apr 30, 2008

We need to invade northern Mexico and create a 100 mile deep 'no man's land' between their border and ours.

Scott Hamilton Robert E Ron Paul Lee · Apr 30, 2008

I would prefer a two mile kill zone.

Volpone · Apr 30, 2008

Paladin said: ↑

We need to invade northern Mexico and create a 100 mile deep 'no man's land' between their border and ours.
Click to expand...

Son, you just killed two birds with one stone:

1) Stop illegal immigration
2) Find a place to put our hazardous nuclear waste.

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American Veteran of Iraq War Being Held in Mexican Prison on Weapons Charges

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American Veteran of Iraq War Being Held in Mexican Prison on Weapons Charges

Scott Hamilton Robert E Ron Paul Lee Straight Awesome

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

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Scott Hamilton Robert E Ron Paul Lee Straight Awesome

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Marso High speed, low drag.

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