A convicted sex offender, with a Dent residence, was arrested and was in custody in Winnipeg for allegedly trying to bring child pornography into Canada.
Gregory Joseph Lague, 47, was arrested at the Emerson border crossing on Sept. 24. The Dent resident was charged with three offenses under the Customs Act, including smuggling imported goods, failing to report imported goods and possession of unlawful imported goods.
Lague must pay a $20,000 cash deposit which will be forfeited if he fails to return to Canada for his court dates, according to a published report in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Local authorities have had no involvement in the case thus far, said Sgt. Al Frank, Otter Tail County Sheriff's Department.
"We won't know whether we'll be involved until we get more information out of Canada... It is a slow process," said Frank.
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He is expected to be turned over to Canada Border Services Friday morning and returned to the U.S. on Friday, Oct. 30, reported the Winnipeg Free Press.
According to Otter Tail County District Court records, Lague was convicted in 2005 for fifth degree criminal sexual conduct. He was given 30 days in jail, an 11-month suspended sentence and two years probation. He was also fined $900, and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution, according to the court record.
Border officials searched his laptop after he was denied entry to Canada last month based on his criminal record. They allegedly found pictures and movies of young children in sexual acts with other children and adults. Justice sources say Lague claimed to be coming to Manitoba for a fishing trip, reported the Winnipeg Free Press.
