Lawyer: American Detained In Cuba Should Be Freed

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A lawyer for a Maryland man imprisoned in Cuba for illegally importing communications equipment to the country says an upcoming hearing will be a chance to reiterate that his client's actions were never a threat to the government.

Peter Kahn, a Washington-based lawyer for Alan Gross, made the comments Wednesday in a statement released about Friday's appeal hearing.

Gross was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison. This week's appeal before Cuba's Supreme Court is Gross' final legal recourse. Kahn said Gross' wife, who now lives in Washington, is recuperating from surgery and will not attend the hearing.

Kahn also repeated a request to Cuban authorities to release Gross on humanitarian grounds. He said Gross' family remains hopeful the Supreme Court's decision will allow Gross to be released.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)