The fate of Troy Bachmann remains cloudy, at best. His prison quarters have
improved, but the rickety wheels of Mexican justice creek along.

Bachmann has languished in the Venustiano Carranza Prison in Tepic, Mexico
– a prison of “unspeakable conditions” according to Human Rights Watch –
since May 2015, on charges his family insists are bogus.

In fact, the slow-moving Mexican court system seemed to agree. In mid-
November the charges against Bachmann were negated, only to have the

judge recharge the Mountain resident, despite admitting “there was no
evidence (of guilt) in any of the charges against him.”

Now, Bachmann remains in prison, and waits.

Troy’s brother, Derek Bachmann, of Seattle, has worked furiously trying to
gain Troy’s release, as well as provide funds to improve his prison conditions.

“About a month ago we were able to secure a private cell for Troy,” Derek
wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. “Of course, at a cost.”

Derek’s early efforts cost him his job in August.

“I’ve completely exhausted my savings and dipped into my IRA account,”
Derek wrote. “As you can imagine it’s taking quite a toll on my family both
financially and emotionally.”

In the meantime, Derek stays in constant touch with his brother.

“Troy’s mood comes and goes,” Derek wrote. “I speak to him most every day
now just to make sure that everything is OK with him. Of course a situation
like this can take a toll on any man’s spirits.”

Troy was taken into custody, and prison, following charges from watermelon
farmers at Fancy Fresh Farms, Troy’s Mexican business. Troy had hired a new
bookkeeper and noticed 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 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 returning from the business trip, Troy planned to meet with the growers
to straighten out the misunderstanding but was immediately surrounded by
police, handcuffed, and arrested – without a warrant or reading of his rights –
according to Derek and their father Mark Bachmann, owner of The Fly Fishing
Shop in Welches.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and, Jeff Merkley have tried to intervene on
Troy’s behalf, but with little success.

“Senator Merkley has personally called and spoke with the ambassador of
Mexico to the United States and it seems that the ambassador is doing
everything he can to secure Troy’s release,” Derek wrote.

Previously, in September 2015, Sen. Wyden’s letter to Ambassador Dr. Miguel
Basanez Ebergenyi, failed to change anything of note.

“I am writing to express my concern about the treatment of Mr. Troy
Bachmann,” Wyden wrote in a Sept. 17 letter. “While I am not in a position to
assess the merits of the allegation, I am told that the U.S. Consulate was not
notified of Mr. Bachmann’s arrest for approximately one week. If true, that
would raise serious concerns.”

The ambassador responded noting he was looking into the situation, even
though referring to the senator as “Roy” Wyden.

Local residents can help pay for Troy’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.

The most recent report indicated that 75 donors had already contributed a
total of $8,160.

As the ordeal continues, Derek keeps the faith.

“As you know, we are Bachmanns, and we will persevere,” he wrote.