Canadian vigilantes confronted New York sex offender before arrest

U.S. court records reviewed by CBC News show that federal investigators looked into Kyle Devlin Lawrence, a New York man, after a group of Canadians confronted him in 2024 over allegations that he had traveled to Canada to meet a minor for sex. Lawrence, 44, was later arrested in a separate case tied to the disappearance of a 16yearold girl in Ohio. He has since pleaded guilty in Cincinnati to transporting someone with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The FBI complaint says online accounts linked to Lawrence had already drawn attention from childexploitation investigators in 2023. It also says the Canadian confrontation was posted online, but the document does not identify where in Canada it happened or who was involved. Canadian and U.S. authorities have warned against vigilante action in criminal cases, saying it can interfere with investigations and may lead to charges. CBC also noted that Lawrence is awaiting sentencing in the Ohio case.