The Abbotsford Police Department is thanking a local dad who used Facebook to help catch a U.S. sex offender attempting to lure young girls, ultimately resulting in his deportation.
Jason "Booda" Reise pleaded guilty last week in a B.C. court to sexual interference and child luring, charges Const. Ian MacDonald said came about in part because of the efforts of a concerned father.
The man, troubled about contact Reise had made with his young daughter, set up his own Facebook profile posing as a 15-year-old girl.
He, too, was contacted by Reise, and printed off his findings and submitted them to investigators. The incident is an example of the "double-edged sword" social networking presents to sex offenders, MacDonald said.
"Some of these folks see it as a mechanism for them to make contact, but it is also a mechanism for us -- or even private citizens -- to keep tabs on them," he said.
MacDonald said the department has "absolutely nothing but thanks and respect" for the father's assistance, but hesitated to condone the behaviour in general.
"You almost have to look at it on a case-by-case basis," he said. If nothing else, parents are advised to pay attention to their young children's online social life.
"I think parents should be friends of their kids on these sites, and recognize that social networking is essentially an open door into your house and should be treated as such," MacDonald said.
Reise was sentenced to one year in jail, but released shortly after receiving double credit for the nearly six months he spent incarcerated awaiting trial. Upon his release, he was picked up by the Canadian Border Services Agency.
"As soon as he was given a chance for daylight, CBSA was waiting with documentation for deportation," MacDonald said. "He is no longer of concern to British Columbians."
Reise is likely to spend more time behind bars in the U.S., MacDonald added, as he is wanted in Pennsylvania for parole violations.
