Cruising in Mexico (7 Days in a Mexican Jail)

[Panamajames]

Another miracle for my life and another chapter for my book.

Good morning everyone

This is where I have been for 7 days. I stayed out of the main section, thank God as we slept in the office where the attorneys meet we saw many of the prisoners close up. The prisoner boss of the prison came to me with an interpreter to find out what happened. These are very dangerous people that are involved in all types of crime. Their real bosses are on the outside of the prison and give them orders. The guards here respect them and stay out of their way. They have not trouble moving about the prison. I paid my respect to him and his group. Women are in this prison and children are allowed until they are 5 years old. Wifes can come into the prison to stay with their husband.
There is a section where we showered that have all the drunks they picked off the street the previous night. We shower with a bucket of water and soap. My cellmates, a professional hit man, rapist and kidnapper (all accused) helped me alot. One of the mothers of one of the guys washed my clothes and brought us toliet paper and things we needed. The simplest things were very valuable. Like my jacket for a pillow and a plastic cup and a plastic spoon to eat and drink with. Everyone was very clean and organized and cleaned the floor with clorox 2 times per day. The lent me a blanket to sleep on. The prison provides nothing. But if you have money you can buy things at the commissary. The guards can get us anything if we have money. When I went to the court for hearings I was shackled and put in the back of a closed pickup. No less than than 10 armed police and military with machine guns took me to the court with 2 cars in front and back. You would think I was Pablo Escobar. Sirens and light flashing all the way.

All charges dropped regarding my gun that I carry on my boat. Lily will be free to leave Mexico either monday or tuesday. We did not know Lily and her brother needed a visa to enter Mexico. Getting my passport on Monday.
I am in a hotel and after sleeping on hard floors, it is very very nice. Lily is with immigration at the Cancun airport. They feed her and her brother 3 tiimes a day. no shower but the use of airport bathrooms. she has been there 8 days now. She told me she has met many people as in the day she is in the airport waiting room. I saw her the other night and she was very emotional. We are getting married in San Andreas on the way back to Panama. We want to get back to Panama ASAP Winds today are blowing very very strong but it is supposed to calm down later in the week.. We had the choice of leaving the country immediately after we arrived but I refused because after sailing in 10-20 seas and over 24 knots winds I was exhausted. I think the gun charges would have been filed anyway and the Adwana customs would have kept us. This should never have happened. I have checked my gun in many countries without problems. Mexico is at war with itself and everyone is in danger here. On the good side many Mexicans have helped me including the warden of the prison and the American Consular. I put everything in Gods hands and he guided me through all this. I am free and Lily and her brother will be free on Monday. Thanks God.

The lesson learned here was to understand the country's law better before you enter the country. This is a very violent country and you are guilty until proven innocent. My attorney worked the system well and had friends in different levels of the government. The problem in being in jail is that you do not have access to your bank account or money or even western union. You have to have friends on the outside. You may have $10k in the bank and a debit card but you can not get to it. My lawyer liked me and said we could worry about the money later after I was free. That is itself was unbelievable as that does not happen often. Plus the attorney were top flight and real winners. That persona was immpecable. That in itself was a miracle and gift from God. It was purely an accident that I met them. If I would have been in the main part of the prison. 15 yards away I would not have met them A couple of prisoners said not to use them as they were too expensive.. I told them up front I did not have much money. They said it would not be pro bono but I would work it out with them later.. It was not a difficult case cause I had the proof of innocence which I showed the court. I had a gun permit and I tried to declare my gun but was not provided the proper paperwork. None of this was my fault except I was there in Mexico. The wrong attorney in this case could have really screwed things up and I could have been in jail for a long time. Really, it was truly a gift from God.

Best to everyone Jim

I have never seen so many tatoos in my life...but you won't find one on me. Its a good feeling to be free but I wont feel real good until Lily and her brother are free too.. Monday.


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