Program seeks to protect children from sex offenders

By Mary Manning

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 | 9:27 a.m.

In an ongoing effort to protect Southern Nevada's children from sex offenders, a dozen agencies and 30 law enforcement officers are teaming up to arrest sex offender fugitives and ensure compliance of known sex offenders through Operation Trick or Treat III.

Nevada Child Seekers, one of the partners in the operation, explained today how the two-phase operation works.

The first phase occurred Monday through Thursday when as many sex offender fugitives who could be found were arrested and compliance checks were completed on known sex offenders living in Clark County. The operation succeeded in arresting a total of 22 fugitives, with 16 of them sex offenders. Of the 16 sex offenders, two were arrested out of state from tips to the task force. One wanted for lewdness with a child under 14 was captured in Minnesota and the other, wanted for sexual assault on a minor, was found in New Mexico.

In addition, 47 sex offenders warrants were closed out and 181 compliance checks were conducted. Local law enforcement agencies will begin investigations into those non-compliant sex offenders and the U.S. Marshall's Service will launch federal investigations into non- compliant sex offenders who crossed state lines.

The second phase of the operation begins today when the task force aims to prevent local sex offenders from interacting with any trick or treating children during Halloween activities. With the state Department of Public Safety's Operation Scarecrow, the operation will check 181 sex offenders who have lifetime registration requirements. Under law enforcement restrictions, these sex offenders cannot display any Halloween decorations, hand out candy to children or engage in any activities with children who are participating in trick or treat activities.

In addition to the agencies listed above, Metro Police, North Las Vegas Police, the Nevada Gaming Control Board's Enforcement Division, Boulder City Police, Henderson Police, the Nevada Department of Corrections, Las Vegas City Marshals, the Nye County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Clark County School District Police are joining forces in this effort to protect children in the community.