Sheriff’s Office to visit registered sex offenders and check on them Halloween night to make clear state law prohibits them giving candy to kids

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann said all convicted, registered sex offenders in the parish will get a visit from sheriff’s deputies before Halloween bearing a gift, but not a treat.

Officers will bring fliers to all registered sex offenders, to remind them, Sheriff Pohlmann said, that under state law they can’t distribute candy or other gifts to persons under the age of 18 at Halloween, Mardi Gras, Easter, Christmas or any other holiday for which candy is often given out to minors. They also are forbidden to mask.

The flier says no candy is being given at that door.

Deputies will try to hand the fliers to the registered offenders and talk to them but if they can’t do that will leave the flier at their door. There is no law saying they have to post it on their door but Sheriff James Pohlmann recommends they do so to make sure children aren’t there to trick-or-treat. “It would be for their benefit as well as for the benefit of minors.’’

“We will have deputies out the night of Halloween making compliance checks to ensure minors aren’t at the doors of sex offenders being given candy,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “If the person who is a registered sex offender is seen mingling with children at their door they will be questioned and if they are giving out candy they will be arrested.”

Compliance checks also make sure the registered sex offender is living at the address they last gave to authorities when they either moved into the parish or changed their address. It is a violation of law not to register with authorities when a sex offender changes an address.

“This is something we take seriously,’’ the sheriff said. “The law is there to protect minors from coming in contact with a registered sex offender at their home in the guise of them giving them something.”

He said violators of the law shall be sentenced to a term in prison of not less than six months and up to three years.

Sheriff Pohlmann said parents or escorts walking with minors as they trick-or-treat should make sure to avoid residences where fliers may be posted saying candy isn’t being given out there.

St. Bernard currently has 73 registered sex offenders living in the parish. “Every parish has registered sex offenders and parents should be aware of this,’’ the sheriff said.

Pohlmnn said the OffenderWatch program on registered sex offenders across Louisiana informs the public where the offenders live in neighborhoods and gives information on their convictions. The information can be found on the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Web Site at www.sbso.org or on the Louisiana State Police Web Site. The local site is maintained in St. Bernard Parish by Det. Capt. Jeff Roderfeld.