Arrested Skipper’s Dad in Brief Visit Home

Eugene McClung, the father of a Laguna Beach boat captain being held in Mexico on a gun smuggling charge, said Friday on his arrival home that he is not bitter and remains hopeful his son will be released soon.

“I’m not angry with the Mexican government, although it’s been very painful,” McClung, 71, said at Los Angeles International Airport, hours after leaving his son, Scott McClung, 36, in a Mexican hospital. “We’ve had a lot of support from the government out of Mexico, and we hope that will continue, and we feel confident that it will. We’re just looking forward to an early release for Scott.”

Eugene and Scott McClung and friend Noah Bailey were arrested Aug. 10 during an unexpected stop of Eugene’s 145-foot vessel, the Rapture, because of engine trouble. Mexican authorities accused them of gun smuggling and held the ship and the nine-member crew’s passports. Bailey and Eugene McClung were released after nine days, but Scott McClung was ordered to stand trial. He collapsed at hearing the news and remains hospitalized, in custody, at a private clinic in Cozumel.

His father chose to remain in Mexico until his son’s release, but returned home briefly to thank supporters.

William Bollard, the McClungs’ attorney, who accompanied the father on the flight Friday, declined to detail what he said was an investigation focusing on the prosecutor in Cozumel who allegedly sought a $10,000 bribe to release Scott McClung.

“We are aware that such an investigation may in fact be involved, with certain irregularities that have taken place,” Bollard said. “It is an ongoing investigation, and we’re not in a position to make any comments.”

The prosecutor, Claudio Sanchez Torres, has argued that McClung made no declaration of weapons aboard the Rapture when it docked in Cozumel. That charge was denied by the McClungs.

Sanchez could not be reached for comment.

Scott McClung had two AR-15 rifles and three shotguns aboard the Rapture when he docked in Cozumel. He said he needed the weapons for protection against pirates who prey on boats in the Caribbean.

Several appeals have been filed with the Mexican court alleging that Mexican port authorities illegally boarded the ship and that the search, seizure and arrests also were illegal, Bollard said.

“We’ve listed a host of claims that serve as the basis of the appeals,” he added. “As far as an early release [for Scott McClung], we are very hopeful.”

The elder McClung became emotional when he was asked at the airport what his son said the last time they talked in Mexico.

“Last night it was a good goodbye,” the father said. “He knows that I’m going to be gone only a short time. We’ve said right along that we did nothing wrong and we know that we’re going to come out on the right side of it.”

Both Bollard and Eugene McClung said that although Scott can’t leave his room inside the clinic, he is in good shape.

“He’s doing pretty good. Physically, he’s doing pretty good,” his father said. “He’s had his ups and downs, and he’s not used to being in a small room for a long period of time.”

The Rapture’s skipper is under 24 hour guard by federal and Mexican state police, Bollard said. The family has paid for private guards at the clinic that “we have felt the need to have in place,” Bollard said.

“There are lots of checks and balances in place,” Bollard added. “There are some things we can’t really comment on that are part of an ongoing investigation now in Mexico. But we’re pleased with how the clinic has made itself available to us. He’s been well taken care of in the clinic.”

Eugene McClung will be in Southern California for only 48 hours. He said he made the trip to express his son’s appreciation and thanks to supporters, especially at Mariners South Coast Church in Irvine.

About 70 Americans have been jailed this year in Mexico on gun smuggling charges. Mexican officials acknowledge cracking down because, they say, smuggled guns are being used by crime syndicates, many of them linked to drug cartels. The penalty for gun smuggling is up to five years in jail.

On Aug. 3, the U.S. State Department issued a warning that U.S. citizens should avoid taking firearms into Mexico without obtaining written permission from a Mexican consulate or the Mexican Embassy in Washington.