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Law enforcement to do check on sex offenders on Halloween nightFriday, October 30, 2009Some area law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts to watch sex offenders this Halloween. "We're doing what we can to make sure children are safe when they go trick-or-treating," said Sgt. Sharon Jones of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. "And that's what we're supposed to do -- protect kids." The sheriff's department is planning on visiting the homes of 94 registered sex offenders not on probation in the county Saturday. Jones said that last year only a handful were found in violation of a Missouri law requires the sex offenders to remain inside their homes from 5 to 10:30 p.m. on Halloween, post a sign stating they cannot give away candy and turn off lights on the outside of their residence. Jones said they'll make sure they are following the law passed in 2008, which the American Civil Liberties Union is challenging in court. A decision on cases pending in the U.S. District Court for the East District of Missouri and the Circuit Court of Cole County could come today or as late as Saturday. A message left with an ACLU legal representative was not returned. Lt. Gary Bledsoe of the Scott County Sheriff's Department said his department was in a wait-and-see mode until they made concrete plans for how they'll enforce the law. Like last Halloween, members of the sheriff's department will more than likely do random checks at the homes of registered sex offenders. "It'll be a low-key thing for us," Bledsoe said. "We're going to do our best to prevent something horrible from happening. If it stands, the law is a good thing for known dangerous sex offenders with repeat offenses." Cpl. Adam Glueck of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said officers won't be paying a visit to every registered sex offender in the city. Glueck said officers will respond if they receive a call to investigate the incident. "With Halloween falling on a Saturday night, it'll be busy anyway," Glueck said. "We plan on having some extra officers on duty that night in case anything unusual were to happen." 388-3628 Pertinent addresses: 40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO 216 N. Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 131 N. New Madrid St., Benton, MO
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They should all be rounded up and put in a room with about 1000 rattle snakes and copperheads.
mogearjammer
That would be to easy on these punks.
Slow down here boys, not all sex offenders deserve to be on this list! I do not have a problem with the new law that requires these people not to hand out candy and keep their lights off but what about the 19 year old that had sex with his 16 year old girlfriend. Is he a sex offender? Some of these laws concerning sex offending need to be re-thinked!
Slow down here boys, not all sex offenders deserve to be on this list! I do not have a problem with the new law that requires these people not to hand out candy and keep their lights off but what about the 19 year old that had sex with his 16 year old girlfriend. Is he a sex offender? Some of these laws concerning sex offending need to be re-thinked!
If they would leave them all in jail or on a deserted island to molest each other we wouldn't have to worry about it. Or better yet, castration or death penalty.
greywolf the 19 year old boy with the 16 yr old gf would not be charged. Here are the laws in Mo regarding that.
566.032. 1. A person commits the crime of statutory rape in the first degree if he has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than fourteen years old.
2. Statutory rape in the first degree or an attempt to commit statutory rape in the first degree is a felony for which the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years, unless in the course thereof the actor inflicts serious physical injury on any person, displays a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument in a threatening manner, subjects the victim to sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with more than one person, or the victim is less than twelve years of age in which case the authorized term of imprisonment is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than ten years.
Statutory rape, second degree, penalty.
566.034. 1. A person commits the crime of statutory rape in the second degree if being twenty-one years of age or older, he has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than seventeen years of age.
2. Statutory rape in the second degree is a class C felony.
joekool,
This was pointed out to me the last time I posted on this subject:
Child molestation, second degree, penalties.
566.068. 1. A person commits the crime of child molestation in the second degree if he or she subjects another person who is less than seventeen years of age to sexual contact.
2. Child molestation in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor unless the actor has previously been convicted of an offense under this chapter or in the course thereof the actor inflicts serious physical injury on any person, displays a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument in a threatening manner, or the offense is committed as part of a ritual or ceremony, in which case the crime is a class D felony.
I have never seen this prosecuted, but it remains on the books ans would apply to both participants.
I am in favor of life without the possibility of parole for pedophiles, but not all individuals convicted of a sex offense are a danger to children and some are those who were convicted before the change in the law on Statutory Rape.
I am in favor of a registry, but believe there should be some differentiation, so more time can be spent targeting the high threats.
This is just an opinion based on information on hand, subject to change.
The point is sex offenders will be at home when children are out and about tonight. I feel all sex offenders should be made to go to the police station or the sheriff's station until midnight.