DENVER - The parents of a Colorado School of Mines student who has been incarcerated in Japan since August 2011 tell 9NEWS their 25-year-old son has received a suspended sentence from a Japanese court and should be back in the United States soon.
9NEWS first reported on the plight of Tim Wilson last year. In August, Japanese authorities arrested Wilson under the country's extremely tough anti-marijuana laws. Wilson was attending Tohuku University in Sendai at the time.
A friend admitted to sending Wilson three peanut-butter cookies and four pieces of candy infused with marijuana via the mail. Communications between Wilson's attorney and Wilson's parents indicate the package never made it to Wilson.
Authorities still arrested Wilson on the assumption that the student had requested the items.
It was a claim Wilson's family and even his friend who mailed the items have denied vigorously to 9NEWS.
Wilson carries a 3.98 grade-point average. Faculty members at Mines have previously identified him as a candidate for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
The family confirmed to 9NEWS late on Tuesday night a Japanese court had agreed to suspend any immediate sentence. We will have more details when they become available.
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