(image source: The Washington Times ) BY PAULA HUNT ANCHOR CANDICE AVILES It was supposed to be a surfing vacation in Costa Rica. Instead, it turned into a four-month stay in one of Mexico’s most notorious prisons. But now, it looks like Marine veteran Jon Hammar will be home for Christmas . “According to the reports we are getting now, Olivia Hammer has confirmed to Fox News Radio … the court has ordered him to be released today at a time that is to be announced.” Hammar was detained in August and was facing up to 15 years in prison for bringing a family heirloom into the country – a shotgun that had belonged to his grandfather. Hammar and a friend say they filled out all the proper paperwork to bring the gun into Mexico, but Mexican border authorities disagreed. The friend was released after three days, but Hammar ended up chained to a bed in solitary confinement . Friends set up a “Free Jon Hammar” Facebook page to bring attention to his ordeal. One online petition urging the Obama administration to take action gathered over 26,000 signatures. And, U.S. Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter of California called for a boycott of Mexico until Hammar was released. The judge ruled Hammar had no criminal intent in bringing the 60-year-old rifle into the country and that his constitutional rights were violated. According to Fox News Latino, Hammar’s father doesn’t think his son is ready for a flight, so they will be driving home to South Florida in time for Christmas.