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Destin boat captain jailed in Mexico Comments 48 | Recommend 6 John Peerson faces weapons charges for having guns on the boat Reel Screamer January 29, 2009 - 2:29 PM Andrew Gant Daily News A Destin boat captain has been jailed in Mexico for more than a week on gun charges, and his family here says authorities are squeezing him for cash.
John Peerson, 48, captain of the private yacht Reel Screamer, was detained in the Port of Isla Mujeres on Jan. 20, the family confirmed this week.
"They haven't mistreated him. He's the golden goose," said Peerson's mother, Dian Pritchard.
The family claims some $35,000 has exchanged hands at the jail, presumably to speed up Peerson's release - but that date moves back every day. Meanwhile, the Mexican government still is holding the yacht.
"We keep hearing ‘Ma￱ana, ma￱ana, ma￱ana,' " said Pritchard's husband, Charlie. "But it's something we know very little about. It's extremely frustrating for my wife, who's extremely worried."
Peerson was arrested during a fuel stop at Isla Mujeres, off the coast Cancun, during a return trip from Colombia. Mexican authorities searched the yacht for drugs, but instead found a .45-caliber Colt pistol, a Ruger Mini and a 12-gauge shotgun, along with six magazines of various ammunition and more than 200 extra rounds. They charged Peerson with introducing guns to Mexico.
On Wednesday, the Spanish-language newspaper "PorEsto!" reported that a judge declared Peerson "formalmente preso" - or formally incarcerated - after a court extension expired.
The weapons were stowed away for protection against pirates or terrorists, Peerson has argued. He said they've always been onboard and belong to the yacht's owner, Wayne Rickert of Bradenton.
Rickert didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment Thursday.
Some of the other men on the boat have been released, including one named Brant Kelly, according to "PorEsto!"
Brant Kelly, captain of the Relentless charter fishing boat in Destin, didn't return messages Wednesday or Thursday.
But Peerson has remained in jail. His wife, LeCretia, traveled to be with him and send updates to Florida.
On Thursday, that update was: "It could be days, it could be weeks, and I'm not going to believe what I've heard at the prison."
Peerson was scheduled to meet with an American Embassy counsel Thursday morning and then with his attorneys later in the day.
In Destin, several fishing boat captains said carrying guns at sea is not uncommon. One said he carries a weapon for protection at all times.
But guns must be declared on arrival in Mexico and penalties for carrying weapons without permits can be severe.
Reached Thursday, the U.S. Consulate in Merida, Mexico, declined to release information in the case.
"It is so convoluted that we just really don't know what the whole story is," Dian Pritchard said. "He's just terribly frustrated and you can't imagine how terrible it is for me that my wonderful son, they took in leg irons to his hearing."
Pritchard hoped to contact a new attorney in Mexico on Thursday or today.
Link to article that appeared in Destin Newspaper
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/peerson_14648___article.htm l/captain_family.html#slComments