Writer Peter Watts Sentenced; No Jail Time

shadowbearer writes "SF writer Peter Watts, a Canadian citizen, whose story we have read about before in these pages, was sentenced three days ago in a Port Huron, MI court. There's not a lot of detail in the story, and although he is still being treated like a terrorist (cannot enter or pass through the US, DNA samples) he was not ordered to do any time in jail, was freed, and has returned home to his family. The judge in the case was, I believe, as sympathetic as the legal system would allow him to be."

Re:Who Is Peter Watts??

[binarylarry]

He writes erotic fiction based on well known science fiction properties. His latest book, Jean Luc Picard: Stone Cold Space Pimp, was amazing, I hear he won an award for it.

Re:Common Sense

[TheOtherChimeraTwin]

Yes, indeed. If there is one take-away from all this, it is obey. Hell, if a Canadian isn't polite enough, you need to be on your best behavior. So keep your head down citizen and don't ask any questions. If beaten, be sure to thank the border guard, and try to not bleed on their uniform. They hate when you bleed on their uniform.

Handy "Do they think I'm a terrorist?" checklist.

[goodmanj]

although he is still being treated like a terrorist (cannot enter or pass through the US, DNA samples)

Hi! Are you wondering if the U.S. federal government is treating you like a terrorist? Sure, we all are. Here's a handy questionnaire to find out.

Is there a Predator drone overhead firing missiles at your car?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No

If you checked "No", congratulations! The U.S. government might not trust you or want you in the country, but they're not treating you like a terrorist.

Re:simply standing too close to an officer..

[Anonymous Coward]

Scifi novelists, small-town mayors, Chinese diplomats, 75-year-old grandmas, epileptics having a seizure -- Is there ANYONE law enforcement doesn't want to beat bloody before talking to them any more?

Yes. Actual criminals who might actually shoot back.

"HE'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!"

[jeko]

they need only act when they perceive a threat

Dammit, Boys, IT'S A CANADIAN! Git him before they burn the White House again!

Fearing for Kramerd's sanity at this point

[jeko]

Peters hopefully has learned not to give police officers a reason to beat him. ... It simply means that since the criminal (he was convicted, remember) was being a criminal in english, that he probably wasn't trying to smuggle anything over the mexican border at that time.

Dude, seriously? Let me guess. You're mall security waiting to hear back from the department on your test results? Got a whole closet full of badges and uniforms you like to try on in front of the mirror late at night when no one's watching, do you? Got the whole "You talkin' to me?" speech in flawless De Niro accent down cold, huh?

Re:That's something anyway

[toddestan]

Not to mention that since it's a Toyota, if they track you down, you can just claim it took off on it's own.