Moscow Jails U.S. Pastor For Hunting Ammo

S.C. Man Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison For Taking Box Of Hunting Bullets Into Russia

(AP)  A Moscow court on Monday sentenced a U.S. pastor to more than three years in prison for smuggling hunting ammunition into Russia.

Phillip Miles, from Conway, S.C., has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 3. He was arrested several days after customs agents at a Moscow airport found a box of 20 rifle shells in his luggage.

The court sentenced him to serve three years and two months in prison, with the sentence calculated from his detention date.

Miles has said he brought the .300 caliber cartridges for a friend who had recently bought a Winchester rifle. He said he did not know bringing such ammunition into Russia was illegal.

Judge Olga Drozdova accepted in her 20-minute summation that Miles had brought the ammunition for a friend, "as they are both inveterate hunters."

The cartridges were not initially found as he flew into Moscow. They were detected a day later as airport security put his luggage through an X-ray machine while he was on his way to check in for a flight to Perm, a city in Siberia.

Miles was dressed in a gray jacket and clerical collar for his sentencing.

"I'm very disappointed. It's a strange sentence for one box of hunting bullets," he said as court bailiffs led him in handcuffs from the courtroom cage, where defendants in Russian criminal courts are held during trial.

His lawyer said the sentence was surprisingly severe.

"I hoped he would only be found guilty of the illegal possession of ammunition," Vladimir Ryakhovsky said.

He said the conviction for smuggling was unfounded as his client had acted without any intent to break the law.

An appeal will be filed within 10 days, he said.

Miles seemed relaxed throughout the judge's summation.

His interpreter struggled to keep up with the judge's delivery and stopped at various points throughout the sentencing. At one point, Miles tapped the interpreter's elbow to remind her to resume.

Miles has admitted bringing in the shells, but said he did not bother to check if Russian laws differed from U.S. laws.

But Drozdova said the court could not condone ignorance of Russian customs regulations and noted Miles had visited the country more than 10 times.

She also stressed repeatedly that information on baggage limitations was available in the airport in both English and Russian.

Ryakhovsky said, however, that leaflets in the airport contained no specific references to a prohibition on taking cartridges onto flights.

"The judge's finding on that front was dishonest," he said.

Miles will remain in a Moscow jail until the appeal.

[latoshaperte]

Many of you said he deserves the sentence and no one ever said that he was not wrong for what he has done and even himself said that. So what if he has traveled numerous times on missions trips who actually knows the laws. Everytime Pastor Phillip has gone it has only been for a week to plant churchs and missionary work. The reason I know so much about Pastor Phillip is because I have attended CCC since I was 8 years old over 22 years. How can you cast the first stolen when God has not judge him. So instead of judging Pastor Phillip why not keep him in your prayers and be encouraging. So everytime you think negative about any man pray and ask God to order his steps.

[jdgrannie2]

I think he should have known better. The punishment fits the crime in this case. It''s ammunition for a gun. And, I do wonder, how the heck did he past US check points?

[ranger1948]

corey2444
I think that in Russia they apply the laws equally to everyone. He had been there ten times before he should have checked and known what the laws were.

[ranger1948]

mboyd2014
So because he is a pastor and has done so much good in his life he should be exempt from the laws of a country he chose to trqavel too ? Should we apply tis to everyone or just a special case for your friend the pastor?

[ranger1948]

navyjimfl
He broke Russian law and was sentenced by their courts. If a Russian breaks a law in our country we would sentence him appropriately by our laws.

[ranger1948]

rudy654 and taddles
You have your heads so far up your ***** a s usual you have no idea what you are talking about. I don''t care who you are when you go to another country you had better know what you ca and cannot do legally. This pastor had been in Russia ten times before. There was nop excuse for him not knowing the laws.How did he get thru security checks when leaving the states since everyone knows you can''t carry ammunition in your luggage thru airports or on flights.

[ranger1948]

usbrit
I checked the laws before coming tio Thailand. I find the people here to be very friendly and think a lot of people could learn from them. Yes i carry a gun legally in the states because there are to many criminals and nut cases running loose. I have never even had an argument with a Thai since i have been here for over a year now.

[nocatnowaco]

Wow, you do not want to break the law there; is the law applicable to both foreign and local citizens? Is hunting banned in Russia? What would the sentence be if a Russian brings that same box of ammunition to the US in the same manner?

[nocatnowaco]

Wow, you do not want to break the law there; is the law applicable to both foreign and local citizens? Is hunting banned in Russia? What would the sentence be if a Russian brings that same box of ammunition to the US in the same manner?

[haoli25]

Since he is a preacher, maybe he could argue "Brain Damage" as his defense. Let''s see if his silly-*ss superstitions help him now. lol

[jerr11]

I say send this Chaplain of the NRA to Siberia!

Plenty of game there.

[downsteamjim]

Russia has no second amendment. Many in America wish we had fewer rights like their heroes of the old USSR.

[downsteamjim]

He should have gotten an extra 6 months for stupidity.

[irliberal]

Have faith, mr. Priest. It''s all part of Gods plan... he meant for you to get arrested. Sing a few hymns, convert a few prisoners and you''ll be right as rain! Ohmigosh I feel a bit of music coming on... The Hillls are aliiiveee... with the sound of muuuuuuusic.

[bobnjersey]

maybe bush, cheney, and gonzalez can work out a deal w/ putin where the ''father'' can serve his time in guantonamo ... as a enemy combatant.

he''s already way ahead of everyone else (in gitmo) ... you know he''s been held, he has an attorney ... there''s actually a charge ... and you''ve seen his face.

[taddles-2009]

"If you smuggle drugs in Mexico, Turkey or Thailand (Asia) you will find youself in jail or incarcerated for years, if not, life!

Posted by zoe2006 at 04:32 PM : Apr 21, 2008"


And amazing enough those countries even have laws against murder! And still that''s not the point.

The point is that even his Russian defense lawyer is surprised at the jail time and the fact that they are making this a "smuggling" charge. If this were someone busted for trafficking drugs in Russia no one would spend 2 seconds defending him. The point is that this is an aberration even in Russia.

[andrew_693]

the man broke the law, the man has to pay his debt to society. This is why you should investigate the laws of the places you visit before loading ammunition, guns and the bible in your lugagge. He probably wanted to build a polygamist compound to rape children like they do here in the US.

[usbrit-2009]

Posted by rudy654 -

What on earth gives Americans the idea that they should be tried under American law where ever they are? You commit a crime in Russia - you should expect Russian law - Italy - Italian law etc. etc. And you''d better know the basics where ever you do go because one law everyone has in common is "Ignorance of the law is no excuse."

[amazedd]

A hardship post?

[rudy654-2009]

haven''''t dictated anything, Russia will have whatever laws they want. What I have said is that not posting any information regarding importation of ammunition into Russia and then handing down a 3 year sentence for "smuggling" is absurd in any country that claims to be out of the stone age.
Posted by taddles at 02:53 PM

I agree. The most it was worth was a fine, if that. Stupid Russian government plus stupid Russian court. Too much lead in their water.