Franklin County Law Enforcement Conducts Halloween Sex Offender Check
Franklin County law enforcement checked 111 registered sex offenders on Halloween and found all but one was in compliance.
The offender, who has not been named, had lights on and a bowl of candy outside his home.
Charges will be filed.
Sheriff Steven Pelton said police agencies throughout the county checked 280 offenders over the last month.
All were in compliance.
“This compliance check on sex offenders is a yearly joint operation to ensure that all 280 persons on the sex offender registry are in compliance with the registry guidelines,” Pelton said. “Of these checks there were no subjects to be in violation.”
On Halloween night there where 111 sex offenders checked on again outside the 280 previously checked on sex offenders.
The following are the guidelines required for sex offender on Halloween night:
589.426. Halloween, restrictions on conduct — violations, penalty. — 1. Any person required to register as a sexual offender under sections 589.400 to 589.425 shall be required on October thirty-first of each year to:
(1) Avoid all Halloween-related contact with children;
(2) Remain inside his or her residence between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. unless required to be elsewhere for just cause, including but not limited to employment or medical emergencies;
(3) Post a sign at his or her residence stating, "No candy or treats at this residence"; and
(4) Leave all outside residential lighting off during the evening hours after 5 p.m.
Although, it is not required by statute for law enforcement to conduct compliance checks on Halloween, the Law Enforcement community of Franklin County makes every effort to ensure the safety of the children in our communities. These checks focused on subdivisions and trailer parks that experience an influx of children going door to door.
“I would like to thank all law enforcement agencies along with our detectives and deputies that assisted with the compliance checks,” Pelton said.