MO- Charges filed against 19 sex offenders

Now starts the fun, Missouri enacted this Halloween law, and provided NO METHOD of notifying registered offenders of the requirements of the law. ALL sex offender laws MANDATE that the State notify the registrant BEFORE prosecuting them for violating such laws. So sayeth the U.S. Supreme court. With that said, here is a LATECOMER reporting offenders violated the law on appeal:

12-11-2008 Missouri:

Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Mittelhauser has filed charges against 19 Sedalia residents alleging violations of Missouri's new law restricting the activities of registered sex offenders on Halloween.

The new law required that on Oct. 31, sex offenders post a sign on their homes stating that no candy or treats are available; remain in their home between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. unless they have good cause to be elsewhere; and turn off all outside lighting.

Sedalia police went to the homes of registered sex offenders in Sedalia. Charges were initially requested on 24 people. Eventually, investigators found hat three of the men who were not at their registered addresses were at work. Charges were not filed on two others who had moved and changed their registered address after the Police Department received a list of sex offenders and their addresses on October 27.

Failure to comply with the restrictions is a class A misdemeanor. ..News Source.. by Sedalia Democrat.com