Family fights to get man back to The Woodlands after year in Dominican Republic prison
THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- Stacy Davis vividly remembers the moment she found out her husband Larry was under arrest in a foreign country.
"Some man called me and said your husband is in prison," she said. "I was in shock."
That was a year ago.
"We expected him to be home (to The Woodlands) a week later," she said. "And then they said they can only hold him for three months. Now it's been a year."
Larry Davis is accused of helping smuggle drugs into the country aboard the ship "The Precon Express 1."
He is in Najayo prison awaiting trial on narcotics charges. Larry faces 20 years in prison.
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Larry and his father had leased the ship to another company. He says he received a call from the lessee telling him there was an inspection issue. There was no mention of drugs.
According to Larry, he flew to the Dominican Republic, only then to find out about the large shipment of drugs found on board. He was arrested and put in jail.
We spoke with his attorney, Sean Buckley, on the phone. He is in the Dominican Republic for the trial, which was set to start on March 7. He says it was postponed until March 22 at the prosecution's request.
"There just isn't any evidence connecting Larry to the drugs," said Buckley. "The person leasing the vessel was responsible for the whole crew, the captain, the engineer. None of these people worked for Larry or his father."
He says the trial should take two to three days in front of a three judge panel. They are hopeful.
"I think he's got a good chance," Buckley explained. "The judges that are hearing this case have a reputation as being fair and conscientious."
The Davis' have had support from prominent people in business and in government, including Congressman Kevin Brady.
"Larry Davis' arrest and imprisonment in the Dominican Republic has been a tragedy for him and for his family and friends who have all steadfastly maintained his innocence," Brady told Eyewitness News.
Stacy Davis just wants her husband back.
"There's no question about my husband and his character," she said. "We need help. We need to get my husband home."
