Law enforcement to do check on sex offenders on Halloween night

Some 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."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

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