Story Published:
Apr 23, 2008 at 7:33 PM EST
Story Updated:
Apr 23, 2008 at 8:23 PM EST
Army specialist Richard Medina Torres remains in custody of Mexican authorities.
Monday, federal police arrested the soldier after finding weapons in his car.
In all, an AR-15 assault rifle, a handgun, 13 fully loaded magazine clips and two knives.
Now... He's waiting to be charged with carrying firearms into Mexico with intent to sell.
"I didn't know anything about it was illegal to bring weapons into Mexico,” said Medina Torres.
According to the 25-year-old, he was traveling to Fresno from Fort Hood in Texas.
While passing through El Paso, Texas, he says he decided to take a detour to Mexico.
But before doing so, he stopped for food and asked for directions.
Medina Torres says, "The lady said look for people, you park there and then you walk across into Mexico. That was what I was looking for when I crossed over the bridge."
But Medina Torres says shortly after he was directed to enter the country so he could turn around, he was pulled over and asked to show them his firearms.
"I told them I have firearms right there, opened them up, cooperated with them, and I was arrested and thrown in here,” said Medina Torres.
"I was planning on seeing him either today or late last night,” said Medina Torres' mother Gloria Medina, who lives in Fresno.
She is the only one who's heard from the soldier since his arrest.
She says Mexican federal police allowed him one call home for five minutes on Tuesday.
"He said mom, I took a wrong turn, I ended up in Mexico and I’m being charged here,” said Medina
Tonight... She's hoping and praying that he doesn't end up in prison...
Something she fears would ruin his military career.
"Any other person coming from Iraq is considered a hero, but my son is now a criminal and to me that isn't correct," said Medina.
According to his mother, the U.S. Consulate is working to get her son out of Mexico.
They told her, the guns are legally registered in the United States and said they do believe they were just for personal use, and that he was not looking to sell them.
Medina Torres says, "I am hoping it gets thrown out... It was just an accident, that's all it was."
If found guilty... Medina Torres could spend up to 15 years in a Mexican federal penitentiary.
Click on the link to watch Preston Phillips’ report.
