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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaybe DU can Help this Man
http://www.wset.com/story/24351924/lynchburg-man-trapped-in-scary-overseas-court-caseLynchburg Man Trapped In Scary Overseas Court Case
Posted: Jan 02, 2014 9:27 PM EST
By James Gherardi - bio | email
Lynchburg, VA - Stranded overseas, the fight for one Lynchburg man to be freed from what was a dream trip that turned into a nasty nightmare.
Sherman Hughes, 35, a Lynchburg native and professor of international relations was spending time in the Dominican Republic trying to set up an exchange program. A few weeks ago his trip took a turn for the worst.
Among the palm trees of paradise, a fire that sparked it all.
Hughes, a young educator, is now blamed for a blaze he says he didn't start. He is being held against his will, with potentially 30 years in jail awaiting him.
"They actually ended up charging me with the fire and saying that I was the actual culprit of the fire," said Hughes.
The damage is obvious inside of Sherman Hughes' condo in the Dominican Republic. He's charged with starting the fire. He faces potentially 30 years behind bars overseas for a crime he says he didn't commit.
"Their lawyer fabricated the story. He fabricated the story that made it seem that I was the actual arson in this situation and that I deserve to be in jail for 30 years," Hughes said.
Hughes was abroad working to create an exchange program with American schools. When he returned from the beach one day, his apartment was near destroyed and his valuables were missing.
The condo rental company blamed Hughes, and he would spend two days in jail.
Hughes says it's all a scheme to have him pay up.
"The jail was just a psychological tactic on me because I'm an American, they think I'm very wealthy," Hughes said.
Hughes' options are to pay $10,000 or fight his charge and potentially become a convicted criminal.
"I knew that Sherman was probably in a situation where he could be in danger" said his father, Abe Hughes.
Hughes' parents, Karen and Abe Hughes, sit 1400 miles away and helpless in their Lynchburg home.
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I don't know this man personally but he is from my home town, and maybe Someone on DU knows someone who can help him. You know 6 degrees of Separation and all that.
Thanks
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Maybe DU can Help this Man (Original Post)
Heather MC
Jan 2014
OP
as of today's blog update, it looks like he's out of jail and with friends in Santo Domingo
Pretzel_Warrior
Jan 2014
#4
The State Department rates the crime threat for the Dominican Republic as “High,”
seveneyes
Jan 2014
#7
rug
(82,333 posts)1. His best bet is the embassy.
aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)3. wishadoo for $10K.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)4. as of today's blog update, it looks like he's out of jail and with friends in Santo Domingo
which is good news. He's also got a flight back to the U.S. arranged by before end of January. And the State Department is now getting more actively involved. Sounds like it will go smoothly for him due to the publicity around his case.
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)6. Thank you!!!!!!
publicity can make a bad situation better sometimes
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)5. Kick
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)7. The State Department rates the crime threat for the Dominican Republic as “High,”
https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=14200
Local law requires that a driver be taken into custody when an accident results in serious injury or death, even if the driver is insured and appears not to have been at fault. The minimum detention period is 48 hours; however, detentions frequently last until a judicial decision is reached (often weeks or months) or until a waiver is signed by the injured party (usually as the result of a settlement). In case of accidents, only the driver will be taken into custody.
Not my definition of paradise.
Local law requires that a driver be taken into custody when an accident results in serious injury or death, even if the driver is insured and appears not to have been at fault. The minimum detention period is 48 hours; however, detentions frequently last until a judicial decision is reached (often weeks or months) or until a waiver is signed by the injured party (usually as the result of a settlement). In case of accidents, only the driver will be taken into custody.
Not my definition of paradise.