Halloween operation targets sex offenders

Registered sex offenders in the Las Vegas Valley are receiving knocks on their doors in the days leading up to Halloween.

Police agencies and the U.S. marshals are conducting Operation Trick-or-Treat III, a five-day joint operation to arrest sex offender fugitives and to ensure compliance with registration requirements by sex offenders in Clark County and Washoe County.

Offenders still under state supervision are forbidden to have contact with children during Halloween activities and are not permitted to hand out candy or decorate their homes for the holiday.

Every offender who meets with their parole or probation officer in October is reminded of their Halloween restrictions, said Sgt. Michele Jackson of the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation.

"This is not a surprise to the offenders," Jackson said. "We are telling them we will be watching you more closely. This is a day children are out in numbers. ... The temptation may be stronger than normal."

According to the Metropolitan Police Department's Web site, Nevada has 6,512 active cases of registered sex offenders.

The state uses a tier system to assess each offender's risk to the community.

Henderson police are checking on the 327 registered offenders in their jurisdiction. All registered sex offenders are required to provide current address information to the local police department.

Henderson is home to three sex offenders listed as Tier 3, a category for those most likely to re-offend.

Las Vegas police Sgt. Kasey Matthews, who works in the department's sex offender apprehension program, said a team of six detectives work with U.S. marshals to conduct compliance checks year-round on the 2,130 offenders living within the Metropolitan Police Department's jurisdiction.

Las Vegas has 73 Tier 3 sex offenders.

As of Thursday night, Operation Trick-or-Treat III had led to the arrest of 51 fugitives, said a news release from the U.S. marshals. Thirty-one of those cases involved sex-related offenses. The operation continues today.

"We want sexual offenders to know our commitment does not end with this joint operation," U.S. Marshal Gary Orton said in the release. "We will continue to work year-round to arrest sexual offender fugitives and to ensure compliance with existing registration requirements."

Matthews said keeping trick-or-treaters safe from sexual predators isn't just on the shoulders of law enforcement. She said parents should play a role, talking to their children about strangers and reporting suspicious activity.

"When it comes to Halloween, it's a special holiday, and kids get excited. It's important to have adults around," Matthews said.

North Las Vegas spokeswoman Chrissie Coon said her department works with a multi-jurisdictional task force that includes U.S. marshals and the state's Division of Parole and Probation to enforce sex offender compliance checks.

About 400 registered sex offenders live in North Las Vegas.

The Division of Parole and Probation officers also participate in Operation Scarecrow, a statewide program of 12 teams dispatched to make contact with offenders at their homes and to be present at community events on Halloween to target potential violators.

Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.