Sex offender who fled Canada jailed in U.S.

SEATTLE — A sex offender who fled Canada pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Seattle court to misdemeanour charges of harassment and resisting arrest.

The Seattle Times reports that 48-year-old Michael Sean Stanley was sentenced to 364 days in jail, with 154 days of that sentence suspended. He was also given credit for time served since his arrest in October.

“I got to be responsible for an action,” the paper quoted Stanley as telling the court. “I do need to do something about treatment. Once I get the treatment I think everything is going to work out.”

Seattle police arrested Stanley early on Oct. 22 after a series of calls about noise in a west Seattle alley. He was accused of threatening someone who asked him to be quiet. The police report said Stanley appeared intoxicated, crawled out of a trash bin and became combative.

After his arrest, Stanley was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy. Authorities said he met a boy at a west Seattle grocery store, struck up a conversation and walked with him to an alley where he plied the teen with alcohol and attacked him. The boy pulled a knife and was able to escape.

The Times said that allegation is still under investigation.

Edmonton Police issued a public warning early in October when they found that Stanley’s electronic-monitoring bracelet had been cut off in Lloydminster.

Edmonton police said they warned U.S. counterparts that Stanley, an American citizen, might try to cross the border, but U.S. officials allowed him in after determining he was not the subject of an extraditable arrest warrant.

Alberta Justice then announced it would not seek Stanley’s extradition to Canada because the breach of recognizance, mischief and driving charges he faced north of the border didn’t “warrant engaging the extradition process.”