No one really knew if or when Medina Torres would be released from prison.

It came as a shock today to both he and his mom.

Friday night, Preston Phillips spoke with him by phone while he was having dinner with U.S. Consulate officials in El Paso, Texas.

He says he's happy to be out of prison and on his way back home to Fresno.

More than 5 weeks ago Iraq war vet Richard Medina Torres was arrested for crossing into Mexico with firearms in his car.

He faced charges that could have kept him behind bars for years.

But today, nearly a month and a half after his arrest, all charges against him were dropped and he was set free.

Medina Torres: "I just prayed everyday, talked to my mom, she reconfirmed everything I was going through, helped me get though it, friends visited me everyday."}

Friday night, we spoke with Medina Torres exclusively from El Paso, Texas exclusively by phone, while he was having dinner with U.S. Consulate officials.

Officials that had been working from the beginning to get his charges dropped and get him released from Cereso Prison as quickly as possible.

Medina Torres: "It was hard at first. I just kept on thinking someone was going to get me out. I kept on waiting and waiting for the process to take place."

Now he says his plans are what they were from the start: head home and see mom.

Medina Torres: "I’m gonna go home for about two weeks. Then I gotta report back to Fort Hood for what I understand is a month before they get my orders back to Honduras."

Meanwhile, back in Fresno, his mom waits patiently for his arrival.

She found out Friday morning he was going to be released, but was told not to say anything until he was safely out of Mexico.

Gloria Medina: "When I got the call from Mexico, when I saw it, I thought maybe it was him, I thought it was him, but it was the U.S. Consulate and they told me... and I was like I could not believe this."

She also says she spoke with his captain at Fort Hood today.

He informed her that Medina Torres will not be facing any military sanctions, following his ordeal.

Gloria Medina: "The military has believed him from day one and called him a victim and that’s where they are gonna leave it."

And he says he's thankful for the support, but he says he will never forget what it was like behind bars inside one of Mexico’s most notorious prisons.

Medina Torres: "It was just horrible. I wouldn’t wanna go back and its just definitely a place you don’t wanna be at.”

Stay with KSEE 24 News for continuing exclusive coverage on this Fresno soldier’s fight for freedom.

Click on the video link to watch Preston Phillips’ report.