SPOKANE -- A Spokane drug dealer on his way to prison has warmed a federal magistrate’s heart, who granted him a four-hour furlough for Thanksgiving.

Terry Kinard convinced a federal magistrate he was worthy of having a short furlough because of his mother's age and the length of his upcoming sentence.

Kinard asked for a week out of jail but the magistrate only is allowing him just four hours of freedom. Why such a short furlough? Well, perhaps because court records show Kinard has broken his promise to appear in court more than 70 times.

“All we're trying to do is just get a little time for my brother to come home and see his mom ya know,” Kinard’s brother Steven said.

Convicted criminals value being with their families during the holidays and Terry Kinard is no exception. He wants to be back in the home he grew up in because his mother is now 80-years-old and by the time Kinard's released from prison it make be too late to see her again.

“It may be the last time because she's getting up there in age and she's the greatest mother there is,” Steven said.

Terry’s mother Jimmie’s health – and happiness – must have figured prominently in a federal magistrate’s decision to allow Kinard out of jail for four hours on Thanksgiving. The furlough is limited to just four hours and restricted to his mom’s home because of all of those failure to appear notices.

“The FTAs and these escapes ... they're back from when we were 18 and 19 when we got tickets and they're making a big issue thinking he's missed court all these times,” Steven explained.

Just to make sure Kinard doesn’t fail to reappear back at the jail after his furlough ends, two officers – either Federal Marshals or officers from another agency – must guard him at all times during his furlough.

The cost of bringing that security team to Kinard's home must be paid by Kinard's family in advance, but the family doubts they can afford it. The other challenge is in finding two officers who will be willing to be away from their families on Thanksgiving to escort Kinard to visit his family.