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John Daley ReportingA Sandy teen is behind bars in a Mexican prison and his family is fighting desperately to get him out. They are asking for government intervention as they grow more worried about his safety.
When you cross the border into another country, you're subject to their laws, their legal system. Tommy McDowell and his parents are discovering that the hard way. His parents are asking the state government and the federal government for help, but so far they've had no luck.
It's been a nerve-wracking week for Dawn and Jon McDowell, petrified about their son, 19-year-old Tommy James McDowell, a former football player from Jordan High. Last week he and a co-worker left in his truck for Vegas to tow a boat.
Dawn McDowell, Mother: "Saturday night we got a call from him, from Ensenada, Mexico. He was in a Mexican jail and he was in big trouble."
Jon McDowell, Father: "It's just unimaginable. I feel like I'm watching a scary movie."
Ensenada Police arrested McDowell apparently for using a counterfeit $100 bill to buy prescription drugs. But his parents say every time he calls, the charges have changed.
Dawn McDowell, Mother: "Maybe these charges are trumped up and not real."
Making matter worse, a family acquaintance who claimed to be trying to help get him out of jail wanted money, first $200, then more.
Family Acquaintance: "You guys screwed up. You guys knew all along. You set me up. I don't have a problem. I worked and I've try to help people. But I understand. $70,000, a new truck and a new house, I'm sorry. I'll visit your son one more time, then I'm outta here."
Tommy's parents are trying to find a lawyer. Meantime, they say he was beaten by authorities fearing he'd file a complaint.
Dawn McDowell, Mother: "Signing the complaint was because he was afraid he was going to be more beat up, and he said yes."
Ensenada police have not returned our calls. Both the FBI office here in Utah and the state department in Washington say there's not much they can do. The state department suggests the best option for the family is to follow Tommy's situation through the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.
