The fate of local resident Troy Bachmann has taken another turn, due to the
vagaries of the Mexican criminal justice system.

Imprisoned since May in the notorious Venustiano Carranza Prison in Tepic,
Mexico, on agricultural fraud charges that were completely corrupt according
to Bachmann and family members, he finally went to trial Oct. 12 in a Mexican
court.

It appeared justice had been served. The court ruled Bachmann to be not
guilty.

But a few days later, the local district attorney filed an appeal – not by the
complainants but by the district attorney himself – and according to Troy’s
brother Derek Bachmann, it could take another six months before a court date
is set.

“The feeling is mostly anger right now, and kind of deflated,” Derek told KPTV
news via Skype. “We thought it was over. I don’t think there’s anybody who
doesn’t know my brother’s innocent. The worst part of it is we’re completely
powerless from this position.”

Bachmann was originally charged for allegedly owing money to watermelon
farmers through his Jalisco, Mexico business “Fancy Fresh Farms.”

What followed was six months in the dangerous and overcrowded prison
where more than 3,000 inmates are crowded into a facility built to house 650
– referred to by Human Rights Watch as a prison of “unspeakable conditions.”

According to Troy’s brother, Derek, the problem began when his brother hired
a new bookkeeper for his fruit and vegetable business, and started noticing
discrepancies in the accounting.

An independent audit confirmed his suspicions, but he didn’t have time to deal
with it before leaving on a business trip.

In his absence, the bookkeeper and several other employees raided the
company’s checking accounts, wiped his computer hard drives and planted
rumors with Troy’s growers that he was planning on leaving the country
without paying them.

Upon his return Troy planned to meet immediately with the growers to
straighten out the misunderstanding but was immediately surrounded by
police and arrested – without a warrant or reading of his rights.

What followed was the six months awaiting trial at the prison.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) sent a letter in support of Troy in September
to Dr. Miguel Ebegenyi, Ambassador to Mexico, urging him to intervene. It
appears nothing has come of this request.

At this point, all that remains for Troy Bachmann is to await trial on the
appeal. That wait is at Venustiano Carranza Prison.

The public can help pay for Bachmann’s legal bills and prison expenses
through accounts that have been set up at PayPal, Fundly.com/friends-of-troy,
and the U.S. Bank: Friends of Troy Account No. 153567494536.