Last week, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi's mother hired a third lawyer for the marine, who has been held in a Mexican jail since March 31 on weapons charges. This time, it's well-known Mexican defense attorney Fernando Benitez Alvarez del Castillo.

On the advice of Phil Dunn, a California defense attorney, Jill Tahmooressi hired a new lawyer.

"I'm comfortable that I now have a competent attorney to represent Andrew," Tahmooressi told Fox News last week. "I obviously don't know how to pick Mexican attorneys, and that's why I'm grateful to now have Phil Dunn's help."

The marine's new layer has been a defense attorney for 17 years, during which he has represented the likes of Jorge Hank Rhon, owner of the Xolos soccer team and the former mayor of Tijuana. Rhon was sentenced to house arrest on weapons charges for weapons used in three murders, Fox News reported. Rohn was also held in the same prison in Tecate as Tahmooressi is in now.

"Fernando Benitez Alvarez Castillo is pretty much a rock star defense attorney because of this case, so choosing him would make sense," said Bart Santos, a friend of Tahmooressi.

On Monday, Benitez said he plans to petition Tijuana's Federal Court for a new court hearing, according to Fox 5 San Diego. The court will likely select a hearing date by the end of this week.

"I would ask people to be patient," Benitez said. "There's going to be an outcome. I hope it's an outcome everybody likes, but it's not going to be tomorrow."

Tahmooressi was arrested by Mexican authorities on March 31 and sent to Tijuana's La Mesa State Prison after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in a truck with three registered firearms: a shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol and an AR-15. The marine claimed he crossed the border by mistake as he made a wrong turn because there wasn't clear labeling. Tahmooressi was transferred to El Hongo Federal Penitentiary after an incident where he tried to escape by climbing the prison wall and another when he hurt himself with a light bulb in his special cell.

"After visiting with Sgt. Tahmooressi for the second time in two weeks, I remain confident that his situation is improving and will end with his release in the near future," Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., said in a statement. "His spirits remain upbeat, and he has full confidence in his new attorney."
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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