Pubdate: Thu, 30 May 2013
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Cristina Silva, Associated Press

PRESSURE IS ON TO FREE ARIZONA MOM

Smuggling Case Baseless, Lawyer in Mexico Says

An Arizona mother of seven accused of trying to smuggle marijuana 
into the U.S. had a court hearing Wednesday where her lawyer pushed 
for her release from a Mexican prison, saying she was set up.

In an interview after the hearing, lawyer Jose Francisco Benitez Paz 
expressed optimism that he had proved the charges against Yanira 
Maldonado were baseless and that the 42-year-old Goodyear woman could 
be released by Friday.

Maldonado's arrest has prompted outrage in the U.S. among politicians 
and her family members, who say she was framed when her bus was 
stopped at a military checkpoint last week and authorities found 
nearly 12 pounds of marijuana under her seat.

The case has been a fixture on TV networks with its nightmare 
scenario of a mother being caught up in a drug case and sent to 
prison in a judicial system that has long struggled with corruption.

"You can't imagine traveling to Mexico, and the next thing you know, 
they accuse you of having a block of marijuana under your seat and 
you're going to jail," said Brandon Klippel, Maldonado's brother-in-law.

Yanira and her husband, Gary Maldonado, said they were returning from 
her aunt's funeral at the time of the arrest. Gary said that 
authorities originally demanded $5,000 for her release but that the 
bribe fell through. The husband was released after initially being 
suspected of smuggling.

In court Wednesday, Yanira's lawyer argued that soldiers had 
presented inconsistent testimony about two packages of marijuana they 
had recovered, with some saying both were found under his client's 
seat and others saying they were found under two separate seats.

Mexican officials also provided local media with photos that they 
said were of the packages Maldonado is accused of smuggling. Each was 
about 5 inches high and 20 inches wide, roughly the width of a bus seat.

The marijuana was packed into plastic bags and wrapped in tan packing 
tape. Officials in Sonora state said they were attached to the 
underside of one or more seats, but how was not specified.

Benitez described the packets of drugs as attached to the seat 
bottoms with metal hooks, a task that would have been impossible for 
a passenger boarding normally, as Yanira Maldonado did.

The lawyer said he had requested a list of the bus passengers and 
video of the passengers boarding to show she was not in possession of 
drugs. He presented letters from people he described as prominent 
American officials vouching for Maldonado's character.

A search of court records in Arizona didn't turn up any drug-related 
charges against Yanira or Gary.

The Mexican Embassy in Washington said in a statement Tuesday that 
Yanira's "rights to a defense counsel and due process are being 
observed." The embassy didn't respond to allegations that she was being framed.

Yanira is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Mexico, her 
family said. She and Gary were married one year ago.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is "personally monitoring the situation," 
his office said.
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