Venezuelan prosecutor requests conditional release for imprisoned Utah man

Courts • He and his wife would remain in the country on house arrest to await trial.

Scott Sommerdorf | Tribune file photo
Thamara Caleño and Josh Holt, who are currently jailed in Venezuela, appear in a family photo displayed at a rally on the east steps of the Utah State Capitol, Saturday, July 30, 2016.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Josh Holt's mother Laurie Holt hugs her uncle Leonard Bell after a rally on the east steps of the Utah State Capitol that called for the release of their 24-year-old son Josh Holt, who is currently jailed in Venezuela on Saturday.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
"He's suffering right now and they won't treat him," said Laurie Holt about the condition of her son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed. With her husband Jason Holt, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, and her attorney Carlos Trujillo at her side, Holt said Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
"We do feel powerless," said Jason Holt about the condition of his son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed and the family's efforts to bring him home. With U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch by their side, Laurie and Jason Holt said their son Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on†June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Siblings Derek, Katie and Jenna Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on†June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Laurie Holt, joined by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, makes an appeal for the release of her son, Josh Holt, who has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn."

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Jenna Holt fears for her brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Siblings Derek and Katie Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Kelly Perry tries to comfort her sister-in-law, Laurie Holt, who fears for the life of her son Josh Holt, who has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison and is now severely injured after a fall. Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

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Scott Sommerdorf | Tribune file photo Thamara Caleño and Josh Holt, who are currently jailed in Venezuela, appear in a family photo displayed at a rally on the east steps of the Utah State Capitol, Saturday, July 30, 2016. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Josh Holt's mother Laurie Holt hugs her uncle Leonard Bell after a rally on the east steps of the Utah State Capitol that called for the release of their 24-year-old son Josh Holt, who is currently jailed in Venezuela on Saturday. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "He's suffering right now and they won't treat him," said Laurie Holt about the condition of her son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed. With her husband Jason Holt, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, and her attorney Carlos Trujillo at her side, Holt said Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune "We do feel powerless," said Jason Holt about the condition of his son, Josh Holt, as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his prison bunk bed and the family's efforts to bring him home. With U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch by their side, Laurie and Jason Holt said their son Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on†June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Siblings Derek, Katie and Jenna Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on†June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Laurie Holt, joined by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, makes an appeal for the release of her son, Josh Holt, who has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Jenna Holt fears for her brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Siblings Derek and Katie Holt fear for their brother, Josh Holt, who is suffering as a result of his July 3rd, 6 to 8-foot fall off his Venezuelan prison bunk bed. The family knows Josh suffered a concussion and believe his back is fractured. Josh Holt has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison, where his family says he is being used as a "political pawn." Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Kelly Perry tries to comfort her sister-in-law, Laurie Holt, who fears for the life of her son Josh Holt, who has spent a year in a Venezuelan prison and is now severely injured after a fall. Holt, a former missionary with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Riverton native, was arrested on June 30, 2016. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Thamara Caleno, a fellow Mormon he'd met online last January while looking for someone to practice Spanish with.

By Tiffany Frandsen The Salt Lake Tribune

· July 15, 2017 10:15 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Venezuela's chief prosecutor requested a conditional release for a Utah man and his wife, who have been detained in the country for more than a year.

If a judge approves the request, Josh Holt and Thamara Candelo would be on house arrest in Venezuela, awaiting a trial, according to Holt's lawyer, Carlos Trujillo.

"We are very hopeful for this new development, and we look forward to this actually taking place," Trujillo said, relaying a statement from Holt's family.

Sen. Orrin Hatch's office is communicating with Holt's family, as well as the State Department, according to a statement from Matt Whitlock, spokesman for the Republican senator from Utah.

Senator Hatch has been in communication with both @StateDept and the Holt family today.. https://t.co/7VwY0jBecq #utpol #justiceforjosh
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) July 15, 2017

The Riverton native was arrested June 30, 2016, on an accusation of possessing illegal weapons. He had traveled to Venezuela to marry Candelo, whom he met online while looking for someone to practice Spanish with. He had learned the language while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington state.

The couple married on June 16, 2016, and planned to return to Utah once Caleno obtained a visa, but they were arrested on accusations that Holt was a spy and had a gun and grenade in Caleno's apartment.

Holt's preliminary hearing has been rescheduled five times in the past year, according to Trujillo, and has yet to be scheduled a sixth because of unrest and protests in the country.

Holt's parents recently called on the United States government to increase pressure on Venezuela for their son's release after he fell 6 to 8 feet from his bunk and suffered a concussion and a possible back fracture on July 3, according to his family.

tfrandsen@sltrib.com

Twitter: @Tiffany_mf