THREE-YEAR ORDEAL ENDS ACTOR REUNITES WITH FAMILY.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer A 24-year-old actor imprisoned im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- in Pakistan for nearly three years came home Sunday to tears and hugs at Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX . Erik Aude took his waiting mother by surprise when he walked into the American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the baggage claim Noun 1. baggage claim - an area in an airport where arriving passengers can collect the luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft area - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided area from a side entrance. Sherry Aude yelled out in excitement and hugged her son before he turned to greet more than a dozen friends and supporters. ``I never really knew how many friends I had. Everyone really helped me out,'' said Aude, talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to reporters as friends and family surrounded him in the terminal. ``Friends and family kept me going.'' Aude, who survived beatings and threats against his life during 34 months behind bars in Pakistan, spoke of his gratitude for being back on American soil. ``You really have no idea how lucky we are. As Americans we live like kings,'' he said. Aude was expected to arrive on Christmas Day, but his flight from Europe was late, so he missed his connection in Chicago. He spent the night in a hotel in Chicago, where he took a hot shower for the first time since his imprisonment Imprisonment See also Isolation. Alcatraz Island former federal maximum security penitentiary, near San Francisco; “escapeproof.” [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 218] Altmark, the German prison ship in World War II. [Br. Hist. in February 2002. As he talked about craving a chili dog, his mother recovered from the impact of seeing him free again. ``I feel like I'm going to pass out right now, I'm so elated,'' said Sherry Aude, who casts extras in movie shoots. ``I'll be glad when his hair grows out so it's him again.'' Her son grew up in Lancaster and was a football star at Bethel Christian High School Christian High School, also known as CHS, is in O'Fallon, Missouri. The school mascot is the Eagle and the school colors are teal and black. Their women's soccer team has won many state championships. there. After high school, he appeared in the films ``Dude, Where's My Car?'' and ``Bounce.'' Friends described him as an energetic jokester. ``You know when Erik's in the room,'' said Mauricio Escobar, 24, of Palmdale. Aude's return to America was the end of a long misadventure misadventure n. a death due to unintentional accident without any violation of law or criminal negligence. Thus, there is no crime. (See: homicide) MISADVENTURE, crim. law, torts. An accident by which an injury occurs to another. that began in 2000 at a Burbank gym, where he met a man who claimed to be an importer of fine leather goods. Razmik Minasian hired Aude to fly to Turkey and other countries to inspect leather samples and bring them back to the United States. In February 2002, Aude was arrested at Pakistan's Islamabad Airport after authorities found about eight pounds of opium hidden in the lining of the suitcase he was carrying. Although Aude said he didn't know the opium was hidden in the suitcase, in January 2003 he was sentenced to seven years in prison. His mother worked to free her son, writing and visiting American and Pakistani officials and organizing rallies on his behalf. She had to sell her Lancaster home to pay her son's legal expenses. Five months after Aude's arrest, Minasian - whom Aude knew under a different name - was arrested at LAX as he met another unwitting drug courier. After he was convicted on a drug charge in U.S. District Court, Minasian admitted in a sworn deposition that he never told Aude he was hired to transport drugs. This month, a Pakistani judge reviewed the case and changed the sentence to the 34 months Aude had already served. At one point during his imprisonment, Aude lost 60 pounds after parasites in the water made him sick. He reported being beaten by other prisoners and being threatened with death because he is American. Sherry Aude said her son was kept in a dirt-floor cell, 5 feet by 6 feet. Sean McNamara of Playa playa or pan or flat or dry lake Flat-bottomed depression that is periodically covered by water. Playas occur in interior desert basins and adjacent to coasts in arid and semiarid regions. del Rey, who directed Aude in a TV pilot, said he spoke to Aude on a smuggled smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. phone the actor hid in an aerosol can. Despite his poor living conditions, Aude was learning French and Arabic, and he asked the director about the premiere for his movie ``Raise Your Voice.'' Now that he is back home, Aude said he plans to resume his acting career. ``I got to get back in the gym ASAP (chat) asap - As soon as possible. . I lost a lot of weight,'' he said. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Erik Aude, imprisoned in Pakistan for almost three years, hugs his mother, then talks with the media while she, overcome with joy at his return, weeps against his shoulder Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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