Gratitude, Appreciation, and Clarification

I have been a bit overwhelmed this week as friends new and old have rallied around to help get me out of here. It's been about a 50/50 split between the US and Thailand as far as those who have pitched in to help get me home. I am amazed and incredibly grateful on many levels. I want to reply to everyone personally who has responded and helped. I will get it done as quickly as I can, and hope you can accept this temporary statement. I'm currently basing my communications out of a small internet shop in the Chang Phuak district of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The PCs and keyboards are all in Thai, and many websites only display in Chinese, but I am making due. Hey, that's what you get for 30 cents an hour.

I have an appointment with the US consulate here on Tuesday thanks to some prodding from my good friend Pete back in the states. I should have a slightly clearer idea of how things might play out after that. The financial goal for getting a ticket out is getting closer and thanks to some sharp travel advice from some local fiends it may not cost as much as originally anticipated. It's still going to be a tricky piece of business getting all the pieces put together, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel now.

I have been getting a few questions lately about my legal situation. Yes, it is a bit bizarre. I know. I will try to spell it out in simple terms. All the information is also here in my blog over the last few months as well. Some of it has been encrypted due to the fact that there was an ongoing court case at the time the posts were published. Now that the court case is finished, I can speak a bit more freely. I will do my best to answer the most frequently asked questions below.

Why were you arrested? I was playing a guitar in a restaurant with some friends. I was not being paid, but the simple act of utilizing a skill of any kind outside your home can be considered work under Thai law regardless of whether or not you get any compensation. In this regard I was technically working with out a permit and the police were within the law when they arrested me.

What were your charges? I was charged with working without a permit and not having a valid visa

What is the status of your case? CLOSED!!!! I entered a guilty plea on both counts. I was sentenced to 2 years probation and paid a fine. I paid the fine and promised to be a good boy for the next 2 years. Any problem with the police in the next 2 years gets me an automatic jail sentence.

Why are you facing jail time if your case is closed? I am facing jail time again simply because I cannot get home. Thailand is deporting me (kicking me out) for immigration violations, but they are certainly not going to give me a ticket back to the states. Thai law states that I must be returned to my "country of origin". I have worked hard to support myself here on this side of the planet, but the average salary of most people here is less than $200 a month. International travel is not much of an option for most.

Hope that answers a few questions, and as I stated before there is much more detailed info here on my blog. Those were just the most common, so I thought I would clarify them as best I could.