The latest legal drama to ensnare Justin Bieber is in his homeland of Canada. The 19-year-old singer turned himself in to Toronto police Wednesday for an expected assault charge.
A police official said the charge has to do with an alleged assault on a limo driver. Toronto police said in late December they were looking into allegations that a member of Bieber’s entourage assaulted a limo driver who was ferrying the pop star and several others.
– Earlier Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty in Florida to charges of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license in Miami Beach, Fla.
– As much as a lot of people would love to see Bieber stay put in Canada — including readers of this column who have called and emailed — the chances are almost zero.
While more than 106,000 (as of Wednesday afternoon) have signed a petition to the White House to deport the teen pop star and revoke his “green card” (U.S. work permit), all reputable legal sources stress that just isn’t going to happen.
The petition was created on the White House’s “We The People” website on Jan. 23 and was inspired by the Biebster’s ongoing string of bad-behavior antics.
No comment from Bieber’s camp or the White House, but here’s the bottom line: Foreigners can only be deported if they are convicted of a serious felony.
That said, it is interesting that the anti-Bieber forces seem more vocal than his supporters. According to USA Today, only 1,500 “Beliebers” have signed a “Don’t Deport Bieber” petition — at least so far.