04 Apr 2009 - World News

Sentencing for a former Vanderbilt professor who pled guilty to soliciting sex from a Shelbyville detective who was posing as a 13-year-old girl has been delayed until April 17.

Judge Lee Russell will research issues surrounding a psychosexual report on 47-year-old Lason Lain Watai.

A diagnosis that was to be entered into the record as part of the sentencing hearing came from a licensed clinical psychologist.
However, defense attorney John Norton argued that only a psychiatrist can diagnose the personallity disorder of pedophilia.

Russell will look into which medical professional can render such a diagnosis.

Watai entered a guilty plea as his trial was to begin last month to all charges -- two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of solicitation of a minor and attempted aggravated statutory rape.

Watai engaged in Internet chats with Detective Charles Merlo of the Shelbyville Police Department from May 25 to 27 of last year, with Watai believing that the detective was a 13-year-old girl from Shelbyville named April.

On May 27, Watai asked "April" if she wanted to have sex, then sent web links to the detective over the next two days. The web sites contained pornographic video, photos and other sexual content.

Watai also told "April" in an Internet chat on May 28 he wanted to meet her in a park in Shelbyville and then travelled to the meeting spot, where he was arrested by Shelbyville police on May 29.

During the chats, "April" said that Dr. Pepper was her favorite drink and Watai bought some to the meeting.

Each of the charges against Watai are Class E felonies, which carry a sentence of one to six years and a $3,000 fine. The prison terms could be served concurrently or consecutively and the very least Watai would serve is one year.

Watai will also be entered into the National Sexual Offender Registry. He was an assistant professor of the Practice of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, according to Vanderbilt's website.

Watai's case is one of several brought by Merlo, who has been conducting undercover operations in a regional Internet chat room posing as a 13-year-old girl.