Arizona mother sits in Mexico jail wrongly accused of smuggling drugs, family says

By Lateef Mungin and Rafael Romo , CNN

updated 2:51 AM EDT, Tue May 28, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• A big decision in the case could be made Tuesday
• "She's an honest, good woman," her daughter says
• She was on her way back from a family funeral
• The family is worried because it doesn't understand the local legal system

(CNN) -- An Arizona mother of seven is being held in a Mexican jail, accused of smuggling about 12 pounds of marijuana, a charge her family vehemently denies.

A Mexican state official also believes Yanira Maldonado was framed.

On Tuesday, Maldonado may find out whether she will go free or remain jailed until a trial.

"She's innocent," Maldonado's daughter, Anna Soto, said Monday during an emotional interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "She's an honest good woman. A Christian woman that would never do anything to jeopardize her freedom."

Police arrested Maldonado on Wednesday as she and her husband, Gary, were on their way back from a family funeral on a bus.

During a search at a military checkpoint in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, authorities asked everyone to get off the bus. They then told Maldonado that they found the large stash of marijuana under her seat.

Questions about arrest

A Sonora state official with extensive knowledge of the case told CNN there are questions about the arrest.

"Can you imagine?" the official said, declining to be named because the official was not authorized to speak to the media. "A passenger by himself or herself would have been unable to carry almost six kilos of marijuana onto a bus without being noticed. She must've been framed."

The husband, Gary, was told by authorities that regardless of Maldonado's guilt or innocence, he would have to pay $5,000 to secure her freedom, the family said.

The husband was able to cobble together the money but then was told it was too late. His wife had been transferred to another jail.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is monitoring the case, his office said.

"Senator Flake is personally monitoring the situation, and he has had multiple conversations with the deputy Mexican ambassador this weekend," Flake's office said.

Fears grips family

But all this has not changed the situation for Maldonado or lessened the fears of her family.

Brandon Klippel, Maldonado's brother-in-law, says the family has hired a lawyer in Mexico but still are very worried because they do not fully understand the local legal system.

A court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Klippel said, where a judge will decide to release Maldonado or hold her in custody for four months until a trial.

A local lawyer has told them that Maldonado can request a 72-hour extension to delay that decision.

"We're worried that Yanira may not know that she's the one that needs to request this," said Klippel. "If they don't extend the 72 hours, (the judge) will make the decision whether she can go free tomorrow or will be transported to a prison in south Mexico."

Emotional visits

On Saturday, Soto said she visited her mother in jail.

"I broke down in tears, but she just told me that she was going to get out," Soto said. "She wanted to tell my brothers and sisters that she loved them very much. My biggest fear is that I will never get to see her again "

The next day, other family members paid Maldonado a visit.

They were told they would have hours, but when they arrived they were given only 10 minutes, Klippel said.

"She was at a wire window with her fingertips up through the holes, touching her son's hand with one hand and touching her husband's hand with the other," Klippel said. "She was just saying, 'I don't know how this happened to me. I've never done anything illegal in my life. Why has this happened?'"

CNN's Catherine Shoichet contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/justice/mexico-american-arrest/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular

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