ANNAPOLIS | The Scarlet Letter for Maryland sex offenders this Halloween will be a bright orange pumpkin.

That is the symbol on a sign they are required to post on their doors with a warning, in capital letters, to trick-or-treaters: “No candy at this residence.”

The paper signs began arriving last week in the mailboxes of the roughly 1,200 violent and child-sex offenders across the state with a letter explaining how they are to comport themselves on Oct. 31.

[...]

In addition to posting the sign, the offenders must stay at home, turn off outside lights and not answer the door, according to the letter obtained by The Washington Times.

CNN

(CNN) — Scores of sex offenders in Anderson, South Carolina, will be corralled for Halloween tonight in a move authorities say is needed to keep kids safe as they trick or treat.

Keeping trick or treaters safe from sex offenders is a priority for many law enforcement officials on Halloween.

“At 5 p.m., we are going to require all of our probation/parole/pardon sex offenders to report to the office and they’ll remain here from 5 to 10:30 p.m,” agent Gerald Black, with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon, told CNN affiliate WYFF.

Authorities in Roanoke, Virginia, will do the same. “You have a safer public. We have all the offenders in this area that are on probation or parole in one location. We know where they are,” Randy Phillips with the Department of Corrections told CNN affiliate WSLS.

[...]

“Our agents will be out in force, checking on sex offenders, to ensure that they stay behind locked doors, in dark houses, with absolutely no contact with ‘trick-or-treaters’ on Halloween night,” said Tom Hoffman, California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation director of parole.

Paroled offenders in California have a 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, cannot leave any outside lights on and may not answer their doors except for law enforcement. Illinois offenders face similar restrictions, including a ban on dressing in a costume.

[...]

Sheriff’s deputies in Harris County, Texas, have been checking homes of sex offenders for Halloween decorations and are ready to arrest violators.

“We actually have probation officers riding with us,” Precinct 7 Deputy Johnathon Davis told CNN affiliate KPRC. “They’re going to issue them a citation or their probation is going to be revoked.” More here.

I would advise anyone that have kids out this Halloween in Fort Wayne to go to Family Watch Dog (link) and put in your zip code and search the neighborhoods your kids will be trick-or-treating.

One area I would completely avoid is the Nebraska neighborhood from Leesburg to the west, Spring Street to the north, Main Street to the south and Sherman Blvd to the east. See map below.

Here are a few in the Aboite area to avoid:

JEFFREY ALLAN DENTON
2808 COVINGTON WOODS BLVD [map]
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46804

Charges:
[35-42-3-3] CRIMINAL CONFINEMENT, IF THE VICTIM IS LESS THAN 18
Cause: 35C01-0409-FB-55
Sentence: AIDING CRIMINAL CONFINEMENT / 6 YEARS DOC
Conviction County: HUNTINGTON
Conviction State: INDIANA
Conviction Date: 03/14/2005

MICHAEL NICKLOS BARTKOWIAK
1808 CARIBOU DR [map]
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46804

Charges:
[35-42-4-8] SEXUAL BATTERY
Cause: 02D04-9211-CF-602
Sentence: DOC 1YR/SUSP/PROB 1YR.
Conviction County: ALLEN
Conviction State: INDIANA
Conviction Date: 07/06/1993

LARRY GENE ANDERS
7527 OAK LN [map]
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46804

Charges:
[Out Of State Charge] WI – 4th degree sexual assault
Cause: 94CV000011
Sentence: 3 years probation, 10 days jail
Conviction County: Rock
Conviction State: WISCONSIN
Conviction Date: 04/12/1994

[35-42-4-3] CHILD MOLESTING
Cause: 35C01 0408 FC 00038
Sentence: 8 years, none suspended
Conviction County: Huntington
Conviction State: INDIANA
Conviction Date: 11/22/2004

[Out Of State Charge] WI – 4th degree sexual assault
Cause: 94CV000011
Sentence: 3 years probation, 10 days jail
Conviction County: Rock
Conviction State: WISCONSIN
Conviction Date: 04/12/1994

ALBERT LEROY CLEAVER
1431 GOLDSPUR DR E [map]
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46804

Charges:
[35-42-4-3] CHILD MOLESTING
Cause: 43C01-9911-CF-165
Sentence: DOC 4YRS/2YRS SUSP/2YRS PROB
Conviction County: KOSCIUSKO
Conviction State: INDIANA
Conviction Date: 12/05/2000

[35-42-4-3] CHILD MOLESTING
Cause: 43C019911CF165
Sentence: 4 YEARS, DO 2
Conviction County: KOSCIUSKO
Conviction State: INDIANA
Conviction Date: 12/05/2000

AWB

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