Mexico frees ex-Marine jailed for bringing in gun
Former Marine Jon Hammar, now 27, seen here in a formal portrait. Hammar is imprisoned in Mexico over the possession of an antique gun. / CBS/Personal Photo
Updated 11:09 PM ET
MIAMI A Marine veteran jailed for months in Mexico after trying to carry a family heirloom shotgun across the border has been freed, officials and his lawyer said late Friday.
The attorney for Jon Hammar tweeted Friday night that his client had been released from a detention center in Matamoros, Mexico. U.S. officials were planning to drive the 27-year-old Hammar across the border at Brownsville, Texas.
"Jon is out, going home!" Eddie Varon Levy tweeted.
Patrick Ventrell, the acting deputy spokesman for the State Department, confirmed Hammer's release and return to the U.S. in a statement Friday night.
"Officials from the U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros met him at the prison and escorted him to the U.S. border, where he was reunited with members of his family," the statement said. "We sincerely appreciate the efforts on the part of Mexican authorities to ensure that an appropriate resolution was made in accordance with Mexican law, and that Mr. Hammar will be free to spend the holidays with his loved ones."
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., confirmed Hammar's release in a statement. She said he was "back safely in the United States."
"These past few months have been an absolute nightmare for Jon and his family, and I am so relieved that this whole ordeal will soon be over," the congresswoman said. " I am overcome with joy knowing that Jon will be spending Christmas with his parents, family and friends."
An aide to a legal representative of the Mexican attorney general's office had told U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's staff about the pending release after the Florida Democrat's office got word from Hammar's mother, according to a press release from Nelson's office.
"No American should be in a Mexican jail for five months without being able to have his case in front of a judge," Nelson said in that statement. "We're grateful; this is a good Christmas present."
Earlier Friday, Varon Levy said he was flying from Mexico City to Matamoros to pick up his client. After that, the attorney said, they intended to cross the border. "I'm very happy. I feel that the Mexican legal system came out the way it should have," he said.
U.S. immigration and State Department officials had been at the Mexican detention center waiting for Hammar's release.
A defense lawyer said Mexican authorities determined there was no intent to commit a crime, Nelson's office said. The senator was among a handful of elected officials who urged the State Department to help get Hammar out of Mexico. His family had said he was being held in isolation after they received threats to his safety.
Varon Levy said the path for Hammar's return was cleared when Mexican officials decided not to appeal the judge's ruling.
Civilian gun ownership is illegal under Mexican law unless the owner purchases the weapon from a special shop run by the country's Department of Defense.
"The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against taking any type of firearm or ammunition into Mexico," the U.S. Embassy in Mexico writes on its website. "Entering Mexico with a firearm, certain types of knives, or even a single round of ammunition is illegal, even if the weapon or ammunition is taken into Mexico unintentionally."
Mexican law also bans shotguns with barrels of less than 25 inches. The family said Hammar's shotgun has a barrel of 24 inches.
Tourists are allowed to bring guns for hunting on rare occasions, but Mexican officials said all visitors must receive a special permit before entering the country. Mexican customs agents do not issue gun permits. As a result, anyone crossing the border with a firearm or ammunition without a previously issued government permit is in instant violation of Mexican law, which stipulates long jail terms for breaking weapons laws.
Last week Hammar's parents, Jon and Olivia Hammar, told "CBS This Morning" that their son left in August with a friend for a road trip to Costa Rica, on what was supposed to be a surfing adventure and a healing getaway for Hammar, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Hammar's parents said that, crossing from Texas into Mexico, their son had a shotgun he was carrying - a family heirloom used for hunting - cleared by U.S. Customs.
"Customs weighed the gun, measured the gun, I think took pictures of the gun, gave him paperwork to fill out, and then he took that paperwork across to the Mexican side, declared the gun, and was immediately arrested," said Olivia Hammar.
But when the pair crossed the border and handed the paperwork to Mexican officials, they impounded the RV and jailed the men, saying it was illegal to carry that type of gun. Hammar's friend was later released because the gun did not belong to him.
Varon Levy said he was not sure of Hammar's immediate plans once in the U.S. "Probably some down time," he said.
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Unfortunate but true, if Mexico doesn't arrest and jail American suspects, the suspect flees across the border with impunity most every time. You have a traffic accident and don't have Mexican insurance? Expect jail time while authorities sort it out because that's the only way Americans can be held responsible. Left to themselves, Americans cheat every time.
Thank goodness for a happy ending.
Tip of the hat to O'Reily , well done Fox .
Mexico's gun-laws are strick for the adverage citizen. Only drug cartels are exempt as they put the fear of death into not only the people but the government as well.
Before going into any country their laws have to be checked out. Not only the 3rd world, but countries we consider civilized. America too, as we are considered civilized.