An American tourist who is currently in the Turks and Caicos islands facing a potential 12-year prison sentence after ammunition was discovered in his luggage, shared on Monday that he is making an effort to FaceTime with his children as much as possible in case he ends up behind bars.
"I've been told that there's, you know, quite a bit of restricted communication while you're in prison, and so I'm just trying to soak up as much of that as I can," expressed Ryan Watson, a 40-year-old father of two from Oklahoma, in an interview with CBS News.
Although Watson is currently out on bail, he is prohibited from leaving the country and is required to check in at a local police station twice a week.
Turks and Caicos strictly prohibits tourists from possessing guns or ammunition. While in the past, tourists could settle the matter with a fine, a recent court ruling in February now mandates prison time for such offenses.
"Expressing deep regret, I am truly sorry," Watson expressed on Monday. "While I fully respect their regulations and support their objectives with regard to their firearm laws, I can only hope for some leniency given that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind this, it was purely an inadvertent mistake."
During his visit to the country with his wife earlier this month, Watson emphasized that he had no intention of violating any laws.
"I fail to see how my imprisonment would benefit them in any way, but unfortunately that is not for me to decide," he shared with CBS News.
Watson was taken into custody on April 12 when security discovered four rounds of hunting ammunition in his carry-on bag as he and his wife Valerie Watson were preparing to return home after their vacation in the British territory. Valerie Watson, who is not facing any charges, returned to their 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter in Oklahoma last week.
Previously, Watson mentioned to CBS News that the ammunition might have been inadvertently left in his bag after a hunting trip to Texas. The Transportation Security Administration admitted that their officers overlooked it when the Watsons passed through security in Oklahoma City at the beginning of their journey to Turks and Caicos.
Watson joins a group of several Americans who have been detained in the territory recently under similar circumstances. For instance, Michael Grim from Indiana spent close to six months in jail after admitting to having ammunition in his checked luggage.
Living without access to clean running water is a constant challenge, especially when exposed to the elements around the clock. The threat of mosquitoes and tropical diseases only adds to the difficulties," he shared with CBS News.
With hopes for intervention from the U.S. State Department, Watson seeks a resolution for all Americans with pending cases in Turks and Caicos.
"Families are being torn apart by this situation," he expressed. "I have two young children at home who are struggling to comprehend the situation."
