U.S. Marshals Announce the Results of Halloween Compliance Checks

Kansas City, MO – United States Marshal Mark S. James announced today the results of Halloween night sex-offender registry compliance checks in Greene, Buchanan, and Clinton Counties.

Operations in the Springfield area involved 31 law enforcement officers from 4 departments while those in northwestern Missouri involved over 50 law enforcement officers from seven departments. Deputy Marshals teamed up with these officers to ensure compliance with Missouri's state law (Section 589.426), which generally requires that registered sex offenders be at home on Halloween evening with exterior lights off and a sign posted that states "no candy or treats at this residence," among other requirements. During the evening hours of Sunday October 31st, these law enforcement officers fanned out across all three counties to knock on doors of every registered sex offender to determine if they were at the residence and following all requirements.

The United States Marshals Service is the lead agency for investigating violations of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which enables the U.S. Marshals Service to work with other federal, state and local authorities to investigate sex offenders who may be in violation of federal law. The operations were also part of an ongoing USMS nationwide effort to assist local law enforcement in monitoring convicted sex offenders residing in their communities. Participating departments included Greene, Christian, Buchanan and Clinton County Sheriff's Offices, Police Departments from Springfield, St. Joseph, Plattsburg, Cameron, Lathrop, Gower and the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Results of the operations are as follows:

Greene County:

• Checks of 400 addresses
• Non-compliance of 28 offenders
• Arrest of one non-compliant offender wanted in Christian County

Buchanan County:

• Checks on nearly 250 addresses.
• Non-compliance of 10 offenders.
• One arrest on a local warrant.

Clinton County:

• Checks of approximately 60 addresses.
• Non-compliance of 14 offenders.

"Compliance operations such as these provide the U.S. Marshals Service with a valuable opportunity to cooperate with our local law enforcement partners," said Mark James, U.S. Marshal for the Western

District of Missouri. "These partnerships allow the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies to take a proactive, community-oriented stance in protecting our communities."

Investigations will be opened on offenders found to be non-compliant with registry requirements and will be presented to local or federal prosecutors as deemed appropriate pending the outcome of the investigation. Get real-time access to sex offender registration information on the National Sex Offender Public Website.

The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force—Springfield Division, partners with members of the Greene County Sheriff's Office, the Christian County Sheriff's Office, the Springfield Police Department, and the Billings Police Department. The Kansas City Division, operates in conjunction with members of the Kansas City, Independence and St. Joseph Missouri Police Departments, Jackson, Cass, Clay, Buchanan and Nodaway County Sheriff’s Offices, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other federal law enforcement partners. The task force objectives are to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenders and other serious felonies. It also provides direct support to law enforcement agencies in tracking down and recovering missing children. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 67 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers via the TIPS hotline at 816-474-8477, on the internet at KCcrimestoppers.com or on the free mobile app available at P3Tips.com. Tips can also be submitted to the U.S. Marshals service directly by downloading the USMS Tips to your Apple or Android device. Follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on Twitter: @USMarshalsHQ