It's now up to a judge to determine the future of  ten American missionaries, accused of trying to illegally take 33 children out of Haiti.  
   They each  face up to nine years in prison, on charges of child kidnapping and criminal association.  And now, family and loved ones of the group are asking for them to be returned to the United States.

"We believe that the very best thing that could happen, not only for our loved ones who we miss dearly, but also for the people of Haiti, is for their government to release them as quickly as possible, allowing the world's attention to be focused where it should be, helping the nation that experienced the devastating earthquake." said Central Valley Baptist Church Past Clint Henry.  He's a pastor at a church in Idaho, where many of the detainees attend.

   The group said that they were trying to give the children a better life by taking them to orphanages in the neighboring Dominican Republic.  But, they did not have proper paperwork for the children.  The missionaries say they didn't know they were committing a crime until they were arrested.  For a local man who has spent time in Haiti before, it's a mistake he finds hard to believe.

 "I don't really know what they were thinking," said Rob Hess, of Hearts for the Hungry. "At some point, bringing them into the U.S., your going to need proper paper work, and there is a process to go through."

   Hess runs Hearts for the Hungry, which is a Haitian charity.  Since 2005, the organization has helped feed children in haitian schools.  Next week, Hess will make his way back to Haiti, to assess his groups relief efforts.

"When we get to Haiti, we stay in an orphanage.  And I can understand the feelings they had, to see the kids that are suffering there," said Hess.  "We stay in the orphanage, we talk to the kids, we can understand their situation, but you still have laws and you have to follow them."