EDMONTON — The Wildrose justice critic pummelled the province with questions on the way it handled high-risk sex offender Michael Stanley.
“In 2013, I asked the minister of justice why he did not work harder to put convicted rapist Michael Stanley behind bars,” said Shane Saskiw during Wednesday’s Question Period.
“I said that he was at high risk to re-offend and we had a moral obligation to put him in prison to keep others safe. The justice minister disagreed, and let Stanley roam free to hunt for his next victim.
“Recently, he found her. Stanley raped a 69-year-old lady in Seattle. Does the justice minister still think it was the right decision to let this piece of scum roam free?”
Stanley, who was the subject of a manhunt across Saskatchewan and Alberta, was arrested and charged with rape in Washington State earlier this month.
READ MORE: Sex offender who fled Canada arrested for rape in Washington State
The Wildrose justice critic asked Jonathan Denis to alter Alberta’s extradition policy.
“Realistically, he is an American citizen,” Justice Minister Jonathan Denis told Global News. “I don’t want to spend taxpayers’ dollars trying to bring a convicted sex offender back to Alberta.
“I have no idea why Mr. Saskiw wants to bring a convicted sex offender back to Alberta.”
Denis said he believes the money would be better spent on funding more police officers rather than pursuing extradition, which is federal – not provincial – jurisdiction.
“I really think that those ideas are out of step with average Alberta values.”
During the QP exchange, Denis said there were no outstanding charges “for any violent offences” against Stanley in Alberta.
“This man is out of Alberta as a convicted sex offender and he can stay out.”
Speaker of the House Gene Zwozdesky asked if the issue was before the courts in another jurisdiction and when Denis confirmed it was, Zwozdesky asked the members to “move on.”
READ MORE: Alberta won’t try to extradite convicted sex offender believed in the U.S.
Stanley, 49, was on the run after cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet in Lloydminster on Oct. 1, 2013. Later in October, Stanley crossed from B.C. into the U.S and has been living on the streets in King County since then.
On Feb. 28, 2015, the King County Sheriff’s Department says Stanley was arrested for an investigation of a Feb. 27 burglary and rape. It is alleged he entered the 69-year-old victim’s home through a window and confronted her. No weapon was used in the attack and police say she sustained minor injuries.
“This could have been prevented,” said Saskiw on March 2. “If we had locked him in jail, this tragedy would have been prevented.”
At the time, Alberta Justice said “we’re not in a position to comment on this case as it’s before the courts.
“As for the decision not to extradite, that’s federal jurisdiction.”
When he crossed into the U.S. a warrant was issued, but Canada chose not to extradite Stanley. Stanley registered with the King County Sheriff’s Office and was classified as a Level III sex offender in November 2013.
Registered sex offender classifications are an assessment of the person’s conviction data and indicate likelihood to re-offend. Offenders are given a score of I, II, or III. Level III are considered most likely to re-offend.
Police say since Stanley registered with them he has been in compliance with his Level III requirements. Regardless of level, homeless sex offenders are required to check in weekly and must provide an account of where they stay each night.
READ MORE: U.S. doesn’t know where Canadian fugitive is
Stanley has been charged with rape in the second degree and burglary in the first degree. A $1 million bond has been requested and Stanley’s arraignment has been set for March 16 in Seattle.
Before crossing the border, Stanley had been living in Edmonton after serving a 32-month jail term for assault and forcible confinement.
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