Ignore Halloween knocks, police warn sex offenders

[Caliente]

Ignore Halloween knocks, police warn sex offenders
Be home by 6 with lights out, W. Texas child molesters told

08:30 PM CST on Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Associated Press

LUBBOCK – Authorities in three West Texas counties have strict orders for sex offenders this Halloween: Go home, turn out your lights, close your blinds, and don't answer your door.

Officials in Lubbock, Potter and Tom Green counties are requiring convicted sex offenders on probation whose victims were children to be home by 6 p.m. Friday. Officers will check on the 100 or so men and women throughout the evening.

"It's good to know they are putting sex offenders on notice," said Margaret Crawford, president of the Lubbock school district's Council of PTAs who will take her 8-year-old son out to collect candy and treats. "I think that's a top priority for any parent."

Potter County began Project Lights Out last year. Lubbock and Tom Green counties are using it for the first time Friday.

Statewide, parole and probation authorities will increase their surveillance of sex offenders during the entire weekend, said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Mike Viesca.

Letters went out last week to sex offenders in Lubbock County whose victims were children. The reaction has been mixed, said Steve Henderson, director of adult probation.

"Some are doing it willingly; some are complaining about it," he said. "They have not advanced as far in treatment as they need to."

One sex offender who is on probation for indecency with a child about five years ago said he thinks the program is appropriate.

"There's no reason for kids to be going to our houses anyway," said John, 28, who asked that his last name not be used.

The man did get permission to deviate from the program's requirements. In the years since he was placed on probation for indecency with a 15-year-old in Abilene, his routine on Halloween has been to be away from his home with friends.

John said he will tell his probation officer where he will be and officers will check on him at that location, said David Rowan, the supervisor of the sex offender unit in Lubbock.

Terry Easterling, the head of adult probation in Potter County, got the idea from a television reporter three days before Halloween last year and implemented the program quickly.

"If we can protect one kid, 10 kids, it's certainly worth the small amount of time and effort that we are putting into this project," Mr. Easterling said.

Other states, including New York, Virginia and California, have similar initiatives. In California, Operation Boo has been part of Halloween for about 10 years. Parolees are not allowed to hand out candy from their homes and can't put up Halloween decorations.

Marc Klaas, whose daughter, Polly, was abducted from her California home in late 1993 and found murdered two months later, said more programs like Project Lights Out and Operation Boo will help safeguard children who are out enjoying being children.

"I think they're a great idea," he said. Otherwise, "it's like Santa Claus knocking on your door if you're a pedophile."