Pubdate: Thu, 30 May 2013
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Cristina Silva, The Associated Press

ARIZONA MOTHER OF 7 FIGHTS DRUG ALLEGATION IN MEXICO

Her Lawyer Claims She Was Framed

PHOENIX (AP) - 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 Mexico prison, saying she was set up.

In an interview with The Associated Press after the hearing, lawyer 
Jose Francisco Benitez Paz expressed optimism that he had proven the 
charges against Yanira Maldonado were baseless and that the 
42-year-old 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 Maldonado's brother-in-law, Brandon Klippel.

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

In court Wednesday, Yanira Maldonado's lawyer argued that soldiers 
had presented inconsistent testimony about two packages of marijuana 
that 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 they haven't specified how.

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.

Benitez 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 Yanira Maldonado's character and said 
he was awaiting financial information proving she would have no need 
to earn cash smuggling drugs.

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