Dozens rally for Utah man jailed in Venezuela

SALT LAKE CITY — The mother of an American jailed in Venezuela hosted a rally yesterday in hopes of drawing attention to her son's case.

Laurie Holt says her son was mistakenly accused, and has lost weight and gotten sick since he was jailed nearly a month ago.

More than 100 rallied at the Utah State Capitol.

Twenty-four-year-old Josh Holt was arrested on suspicion of weapons charges after he traveled to Venezuela on a tourist visa to marry a fellow Mormon he met on the internet. They had planned to return to the US

Venezuela authorities contend Josh Holt was a "trained gunman" and wife Thamara Caleno's apartment had weapons. Venezuelan prosecutors said they found an assault rifle and a grenade at her home.

Josh Holt is among 12 US citizens jailed in Venezuela.