Teacher Abuses Student, Gets Exiled to Canada

(Buffalo, New York) Last April, English teacher Malcolm Watson, 35, at prestigious Buffalo Seminary, an all-girl private school, was arrested and charged with sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. He was caught in an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old female student. Watson is a U.S. citizen who lives in Fort Erie, Ontario, with his Canadian wife and three children.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Watson was able to avoid jail and, instead, was sentenced to be exiled to Canada for three years. He will only be allowed into the U.S. to report to his probation officer. Watson will also have to register as a sex offender.

Not enough has been reported about this case to make educated judgments but it sure seems that the government of Canada or Ontario should have a say in the sentence. Personally, I find the idea of exiling convicted American sex offenders to another country quite attractive. Surely, though, there must be some legal roadblocks.

Hell, what am I thinking? The U.S. border is so porous that anyone sent to another country could easily get back in. It happens every day. Consequently, Watson's, or anyone's, exile is likely unenforceable.


[Update 10/22/06]

Watson set to begin exile.