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The U.S. Marine who has spent months in a Mexican jail on guns charges said on “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” Monday that his first hearing in the case did not go as he had expected, as a language barrier prevented him from speaking directly to the judge.

A Mexican federal judge sent Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi back to prison Wednesday after he made his first official courtroom appearance since being locked up more than three months ago for accidentally crossing the border with guns in his pickup truck. Tahmooressi told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren in a phone interview he had hoped to look the judge in the eyes when he gave his testimony, but instead was forced to go through a translator.

“It didn’t go the way I had foreseen it to go,” he said.

On a positive note, Tahmooressi said his PTSD symptoms have actually improved since he has been in prison because he has had time and space to heal.

“This has allowed me to have time to come back together as a person,” he said.

In a separate interview Monday, Tahmooressi’s mother Jill told Van Susteren she believes her son is choosing to be optimistic.

“I think he’s trying to make the best of a horrible situation,” she said. “That’s the kind of character that he is. I’ve raised him to be positive and to make the best out of every situation and he’s certainly doing that.”

However, Jill Tahmooressi said her son needs to be released to receive proper treatment for his condition.

“Certainly a Mexican jail did not cure his PTSD,” she said.