U.S. soldier jailed in Mexico released
Associated Press - May 31, 2008 12:15 AM ET

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Mexican authorities say a U.S. soldier jailed in their country on weapons charges has been released.

Army Specialist Richard Torres was arrested in April after the 25-year-old said he accidentally crossed the border in El Paso with an assault rifle, handgun and nearly 200 bullets.

Torres had faced gun-posession charges.

Gloria Medina, the soldier's mother, told The Associated Press that a Mexican judge threw out the case and released Torres Friday.

Torres has earlier said in previous interviews that he had accidentally crossed the border while looking for a place to park. Torres, who speaks no Spanish, said he tried to explain his mistake to a Mexican border guard.

Medina said Torres will have a few weeks to spend at home before he reports back to Fort Hood, and eventually to his next assignment in Honduras.

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