By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett says the vast majority of
the sex offenders registered with the county complied with state statutes on
Halloween night.Puett says his deputies visited 264 registered offenders that
evening to make sure none had their lights on or were handing out candy to
children, which is prohibited by state law.“We had 21 teams as well as support staff,” Puett tells host
Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “So, 21 two-member teams. And, I want to get
out early that we were very fortunate. We had partners from the (St. Joseph)
Police Department, Family Crimes (Unit) and some of those folks and the U.S.
Marshal Service that deals with the sex offenders came up. So, this was very
comprehensive. We always like working with our partners.”Puett says Buchanan County keeps track of 303 sex offenders,
but some live in nursing homes or other assisted living facilities, leaving 264
living on their own or homeless. Puett says his department takes checking on
compliance on Halloween seriously with those 21 teams visiting residences of
offenders that night, most more than once.“Went out and checked and we did some re-checks, obviously to make
sure that people are maintaining that,” according to Puett. “Out of the total
264, there were 20 that we considered non-compliant.”Most committed only minor violations of state law, but two
were taken into custody. One fugitive was apprehended that evening. Puett says
four homeless offenders failed to check in with the sheriff’s office that night
as required by law.

Buchanan County reports widespread compliance with sex offender laws on Halloween