Russians Release American Pastor

By Pamela Mortimer

A Russian court has reduced South Carolina Pastor Phillip Miles’ three year prison term for smuggling ammunition to ten months, with time served. Miles, who was arrested for transporting ammunition into the country as a gift for a friend, has been in jail since February 3, 2008. Dominic Starr, Miles' American attorney and a member of his church, expects the pastor to be released Tuesday. Miles is scheduled to leave Russia some time next week.

Miles, who received the good news from jail via video link, threw open his arms and said "Hallelujah!" as an interpreter translated the judge’s ruling.

"We're glad that justice was done today," said Starr.

The conviction has been extremely difficult on Miles' wife and four children, who are "elated and relieved and anxiously awaiting his return," Starr said. "They miss their dad," he told FOXNews.com. "They'll be happy to get him back."

Miles, a pastor at the Christ Community Church in Conway, South Carolina, was arrested after security officers at a Moscow airport discovered a box of .300-caliber cartridges inside his luggage. He was convicted in April.

Miles repeatedly apologized for the action, saying that the ammunition was for a Russian friend who had recently purchased a Winchester rifle. Miles claimed ignorance about the Russian law that forbade bringing ammunition into the country.

Miles’ Russian defense lawyer Vladimir Ryakhovsky argued that the English-language signs at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport were "confusing and made no mention of ammunition."

A Golovinsky District Court judge rejected the argument as well as Miles' apologies, stating she could not condone ignorance of Russian customs laws. The judge also pointed out that Miles had visited Russia "more than 10 times."

On Monday, Ryakhovsky reiterated that Miles was a victim of the culture gap.

"He could be the victim of American mentality, presuming that things allowed in the United States are the same everywhere," he said.

Miles, who looked weary in a gray jacket and pastor's collar, was permitted to speak before the panel of three judges before the ruling was handed down.

"Please don't destroy my life over one box of hunting bullets," Miles pleaded.

"I have been in prison for five months because of my ignorance of the customs laws," he said. "I would ask the court to let this be sufficient punishment for my ignorance."

Starr said Miles only speaks a few words of Russian. "I know he's looking forward to being back among people who speak English. I think he was really starting to feel isolated," said Starr.

Despite the judge’s initial ruling, Starr said that Miles has managed to maintain his faith throughout the difficult process. "Pastor Miles has a very strong faith in God and I’m sure that he believes that what’s happening to him is part of God’s plan for him, and that he’ll accept whatever will happen to him," he said.