Man who gives sex note to boy, gets probation

Sex note to boy earns probation

A Winnipeg man arrested after he unwittingly offered a 16-year-old boy money for sex says he will look for his next date in a bar.

“If I want to meet anybody it will be in a bar because I will know they are 18 years old,” the 47-year-old man told court Wednesday.

The man pleaded guilty to one count of procuring a prostitute and was sentenced to one year supervised probation.

Court heard the man had recently broken up with his boyfriend when he walked up to a teen waiting at a bus stop and said “I don’t usually do this ... but give me a call sometime” before passing him a note and walking away.

“I’d like to have sex with you,” read the note, which included the man’s real name and phone number. In a postscript the man added: “I’m even willing to pay to have sex with you. It’s the only way I know to get (your) attention.”

The youth gave the note to his father, who notified police.

Court heard the youth is tall and muscular and looks older than his age. Crown attorney Terry McComb said there was no evidence to suggest the man believed the youth was under 18.

“This is not a small, petite youthful person,” McComb said.

The youth “didn’t take it very seriously — he just thought it was very weird and funny,” McComb said. “But his father was obviously concerned, and we were as well.”

Defence lawyer Mike Law said the man was re-entering the dating scene after breaking up with his boyfriend and was encountering repeated rejection.

“He was lonely and despondent and thought if he offered payment he would be less likely to be rejected,” Law said.

The man told court he was attracted to the youth because he looked “exactly” like his ex-boyfriend.

“It was a big mistake and it won’t happen again,” he said. “I learned my lesson: Don’t write notes. Period.”

The man said he has had “nothing but heartache” from the gay community since coming out 30 years ago.

“I’ve been a nice person to everybody but I’ve been battered, I’ve been used,” he said. “All I want to do is fit into society.”

I feel sympathy towards this man, as it must be challenging to be homosexual and have society look at you as deviant and abnormal. He wants to fit into society. That last quote really struck me. It's so sad that society doesn't accept people who choose to be different than the mainstream. We should be accepting of all people, regardless of their sexuality, gender, race, etc. I completely understand why this man did this act. He was lonely and wanted a new boyfriend and was attracted to the young male. He probably didn't even know that the boy was a minor. This man just wanted to be accepted, not rejected. I feel this man should have received a conditional discharge which would leave him with no criminal record, but I would also like to know any other mitigating factors and if he has a previous record. Probation is the next best sanction. 

Man facing 50 years if convicted in America

Suspected pervert deported to US

An American man who sought asylum in Canada to avoid prosecution on child-sex charges in his homeland has been deported.

Troy Robert Greenbank was transferred to the custody of U.S. authorities after his bid to remain in Canada failed, a Canada Border Services Agency spokesperson said Thursday.

Greenbank, a 31-year-old Missouri native, entered Canada at the Emerson crossing on Sept. 30, 2008, and had been staying in a Winnipeg hotel for about a week when he was arrested by police.

He entered the country before he was indicted in Missouri on two sex offences involving a minor.

He challenged deportation proceedings and attempted to obtain refugee status.

Greenbank had been in CBSA custody since his arrest, the spokesperson said.

He’s accused of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a 10-year-old girl and the girl’s mom, whom he met in an Internet chat room.

American facing 50 years if convicted

He came to Canada 17 months ago looking to escape prosecution on serious child sex charges.

But the long arm of the law has not only led to his deportation, Troy Greenbank is facing up to 50 years behind bars if convicted in his home state of Missouri on allegations he arranged to have sex with a 10-year-old girl following an Internet arrangement with the victim's mother.

"I would like to commend the CBSA (Canadian Boarder Services Agency) officers involved in the removal of this individual from our country," federal public safety minister Vic Toews said in a statement. "This government will not tolerate the harbouring of fugitives from justice. We are committed to ensuring that the safety and security of Canadians are not compromised."

The Free Press first broke news of Greenbank's November 2008 arrest and his subsequent fight to remain in Canada. Winnipeg police found Greenbank inside the Woodbine Hotel on Main Street, where he'd been living since he crossed into Canada through the Emerson border about a month earlier. He was allowed entry into the country because he has no prior criminal record and charges of child pornography and procuring sex with a minor had not yet been laid by U.S. officials.

The Free Press obtained court documents that outline the disturbing allegations against Greenback.

Greenbank allegedly met a woman in an Internet chat room in 2007 and arranged for them to meet at a motel in Springfield, Mo., to have sex. Greenbank is then accused of requesting to have a threesome with the woman and her 10-year-old daughter.

Police raided Greenbank's home and seized several items including DVDs "depicting sadistic sexual behaviour," books and materials on serial killers and covert surveillance and spy equipment, according to documents. Police have taken several statements from witnesses, including Greenbank's ex-wife and another woman he previously met online.