MODESTO, CA (KTXL/CNN) – A man who served prison time in 1995 on felony charges received a “Christmas miracle” when he was pardoned, giving him the opportunity to be with his family for the holiday.
Even with Mony Neth’s strong faith in God, he started to doubt when a felony from over two decades ago left him sitting in Texas just before Christmas, waiting to be deported.
"So, I was about two days away from getting on that plane to Cambodia,” Neth said.
Neth would leave behind his wife and daughter, who live in California.
The man served nearly two years in prison for weapons, gang and possession of stolen property charges in 1995 but had remained trouble-free since – until he was arrested in October during an immigration sweep.
"There are probably people who are still going to look at me as a thug, but I just want to tell them that today, I'm not the same person as I was before,” Neth said.
Faith in God allowed Neth to persevere through two months of uncertainty, but it was California Governor Jerry Brown’s pardon, one of 132 announced Saturday, that helped Neth get home for Christmas.
The father and husband was released from prison Friday.
"God taught me a lesson that he's always with me, I'm never alone and for me not to doubt him,” Neth said.
It’s a Christmas present Neth and his family won’t find under their tree, but it’s the present they wanted the most.
"It is a miracle. It's what I call a divine coincidence that I'm here on Christmas and also, our church theme this week is ‘welcome home,’ so it's amazing. It's a miracle,” Neth said.
In spite of the pardoning, Neth is not completely in the clear. He still has legal matters to deal with, including the possible reopening of his case from 1995.
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