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In a newly-released video, Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal and Sarah Shourd send words of encouragement to a Tacoma-man they say is wrongly imprisoned in Nicaragua. (AP Photo/File)

Freed hikers say Tacoma man wrongly imprisoned

BY Brandi Kruse  on November 9, 2011 @ 5:40 pm (Updated: 7:52 pm - 11/9/11 )

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Three U.S. hikers who were detained by Iran and later freed have lent their support to a Tacoma man who claims he has been wrongly imprisoned in Nicaragua.

In a newly released video, Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal and Sarah Shourd send words of encouragement to Puracal, who faces the one year anniversary of his arrest on Friday.

"Stay strong," said Fattal, who along with Bauer spent two years behind bars in Iran, before being released in September. Both had been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of illegal entry and espionage. "I hope we get to celebrate your freedom."

Shroud, who was released after 14 months, said the three have looked into Puracal's case.

"We've been spending a lot of time thinking about our next steps, and one of the things we've been doing is looking into other cases of Americans that are wrongfully imprisoned in other countries," she said. "Just like in our case, there has been absolutely no evidence presented against Jason, and we are very concerned about him."

In August, Puracal was convicted of laundering drug money through a real estate franchise in San Juan del Sur. he was subsequently sentenced to 22 years behind bars at La Modelo prison in Managua, Nicaragua.

His family has filed an appeal.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (4)


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  • Concerned wrote...
    I am sure the 3 stooges are right about something
    November 9, 2011 7:10 pm
    This guy wasn't as stupid as the 3 stooges for hiking in another country with their liberal thinking & all. It's time for this guy to come home.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    15 minutes of fame
    November 10, 2011 7:41 am
    The Three Stooges have come out in support of OWS and now this case from Nicaragua. It’s true that they appear to be as smart as Jimmy Carter, but they should leave diplomacy to the pros.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    My Northwest
    November 10, 2011 8:05 am
    For all space used at this site to report on the Puracel case, I haven't read any reports on the trial. All we ever get is his family saying he was railroaded. I haven't seen anything that makes me believe he wasn't laundering money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Exhausted wrote...
    To all our children
    November 10, 2011 9:48 am
    Please don't think these idiots are heros. They are just idiots!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }