Sentence: 3 years in Canada...
thankyougrandma
Posts: 1,182
Hehe, banana republic... if it weren't all over the news, i wouldn't believe it, but it's true, an AMERICAN judge just sentenced a man to live 3 years in Canada instead of 1 year in jail (in 2006), fucking moron...
U.S. sex offender may serve probation in Canada
Updated Tue. Oct. 24 2006 8:54 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A U.S. school teacher convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl has been sentenced to three years' probation -- possibly to be served in Canada.
Malcolm Watson, 35, was spotted in a car kissing and touching his young female student in Buffalo, N.Y., where he worked as an English teacher.
"This young girl had stars in her eyes and was in love with him," Frank Clark, the Erie County District Attorney told reporters. "And apparently he was flattered by her attentions and didn't discourage her."
Watson agreed to plead guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse in the third degree, if the U.S. judge would let him serve his probation in Canada. His wife and children live in an undisclosed community near St. Catharines, Ont.
According to U.S. authorities, Watson is not a sexual predator because they found no other victims. Instead, the former English teacher at Buffalo Seminary is considered a "level 1" sex offender.
Canadian border officials must now decide whether to allow Watson back into the country. While anyone convicted of a serious crime in the U.S. is usually barred from entering Canada, Watson's crime may not be recognized as illegal by Canadian officials.
In Canada, the age of consent is currently 14 -- although the government has moved to raise it to 16. Watson's relationship with the student would only be considered illegal if sex occurred.
But according to a Public Safety Office spokesperson, "Canada is not a safe haven for sexual predators and other criminals who commit crimes in other countries.
"(Minister Stockwell Day) has asked the Canadian Border Services Agency to look into the matter and report back to him."
Immigration lawyer Stephen green said Watson has a good chance of re-entering Canada, despite concerns from immigration officials.
"We have to look at whether this person is a danger to Canada," said Green. "It appears that a judge in the United States doesn't seem to think so."
Canadian immigration officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
Some legal experts say if Watson is allowed into Canada, his sentencing would be unprecedented. And if successful, he would only be allowed back into the U.S. for probation hearings.
"This seems unusual, and the first thing we need to do is confirm the facts, so we're looking into this matter," Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the attorney general's office in Ontario, told The Canadian Press.
"We'll take any available steps to ensure the safety of our citizens and children, including asking the police and federal authorities for assistance."
If Canadian officials decide against Watson's return, his sentence will be voided and he will again appear before a U.S. judge.
Two other possibilities are that Watson could be deported from Canada, or serve jail time in the country.
With a report by CTV's Kathy Tomlinson and files from The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061023/us_canada_offender_061023/20061023?hub=TopStories
U.S. sex offender may serve probation in Canada
Updated Tue. Oct. 24 2006 8:54 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A U.S. school teacher convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl has been sentenced to three years' probation -- possibly to be served in Canada.
Malcolm Watson, 35, was spotted in a car kissing and touching his young female student in Buffalo, N.Y., where he worked as an English teacher.
"This young girl had stars in her eyes and was in love with him," Frank Clark, the Erie County District Attorney told reporters. "And apparently he was flattered by her attentions and didn't discourage her."
Watson agreed to plead guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse in the third degree, if the U.S. judge would let him serve his probation in Canada. His wife and children live in an undisclosed community near St. Catharines, Ont.
According to U.S. authorities, Watson is not a sexual predator because they found no other victims. Instead, the former English teacher at Buffalo Seminary is considered a "level 1" sex offender.
Canadian border officials must now decide whether to allow Watson back into the country. While anyone convicted of a serious crime in the U.S. is usually barred from entering Canada, Watson's crime may not be recognized as illegal by Canadian officials.
In Canada, the age of consent is currently 14 -- although the government has moved to raise it to 16. Watson's relationship with the student would only be considered illegal if sex occurred.
But according to a Public Safety Office spokesperson, "Canada is not a safe haven for sexual predators and other criminals who commit crimes in other countries.
"(Minister Stockwell Day) has asked the Canadian Border Services Agency to look into the matter and report back to him."
Immigration lawyer Stephen green said Watson has a good chance of re-entering Canada, despite concerns from immigration officials.
"We have to look at whether this person is a danger to Canada," said Green. "It appears that a judge in the United States doesn't seem to think so."
Canadian immigration officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
Some legal experts say if Watson is allowed into Canada, his sentencing would be unprecedented. And if successful, he would only be allowed back into the U.S. for probation hearings.
"This seems unusual, and the first thing we need to do is confirm the facts, so we're looking into this matter," Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the attorney general's office in Ontario, told The Canadian Press.
"We'll take any available steps to ensure the safety of our citizens and children, including asking the police and federal authorities for assistance."
If Canadian officials decide against Watson's return, his sentence will be voided and he will again appear before a U.S. judge.
Two other possibilities are that Watson could be deported from Canada, or serve jail time in the country.
With a report by CTV's Kathy Tomlinson and files from The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061023/us_canada_offender_061023/20061023?hub=TopStories
"L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers"
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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