[JURIST] A US judge hearing a motion to move Malcolm Watson's parole sentence from Canada to New York has denied that the sex offender had been "exiled" or "banished" to Canada. Watson was convicted by a New York court [JURIST report] last month for endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree sexual abuse. The parties reached a plea bargain permitting him to serve his probation in Canada, where he currently resides with his family. The court prohibited Walton from entering the US except to meet with a probation officer. The deal spares the teen whom Watson was convicted of improperly touching from testifying in court; however, if Watson returns to the US, there may be a trial which requires her to appear.

US officials requested that Watson be permitted to serve his sentence in New York after harsh criticism from Canadian officials and a threat to deport Watson [JURIST reports] for allegedly violating the Canadian Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act [text]. According to Watson's lawyer, pressure from Canadian politicians should not affect the court's decision, and forcing Watson to relocate would "destroy" his family, whose home is established in Canada. Judge Thomas Kolbert of the Cheektowaga Town Court provided the parties with three more weeks to present information before he makes a ruling. The Globe and Mail has more. CP has additional coverage.