West Texas Parents and Law Enforcement Crack Down on Sex Offenders this Halloween
By: Jenne Anderson
Updated: October 31, 2012
ODESSA--- Amanda Long is the mother of 3 anxious trick-or-treaters.
"My son is a dirt bike rider, one is Cinderella, and one is a vampire," said Long.
She lives about a block away from Cavazos Elementary in a neighborhood where her kids will be trick or treating on Wednesday night.
Long says her children have been looking forward to Halloween for a long time, but once she learned about the number of registered sex offenders living with 3 miles of her home, she was speechless.
"That's a lot," said Long while staring at the list.
In a search done on the Texas Department of Public Safety's website Big2 found 45 registered sex offenders living within 3 miles of Cavazos elementary school.
"It's a little more scary," stated Long. "I think the parents should be with their kids," referring to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
But Cavazos isn't the only school with these kinds of neighbors.
In fact many schools in the Permian basin have hundreds of registered sex offenders living nearby.
But here's the thing, they're all following Texas law which states that a paroled sex offender can't live within 500 feet of a school.
Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson says even though these people aren't breaking the law his department, as well as the Odessa Police Department-- are already taking extra measures to prevent any problems this Halloween.
"Anybody that's on parole or probation, they are reporting to those offices tonight (Wednesday evening)," said Sheriff Donaldson.
Donaldson also says those who aren't required to report to the Odessa Police or the Ector County Sheriff Departments are still not allowed to hand out candy or even have their light on Wednesday night.
That's comforting to Long who says she'll be with her kids at every door, and urges other parents do the same.
"Go with your kids and walk with them to every door," said Long. "You never know who's there."
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"My son is a dirt bike rider, one is Cinderella, and one is a vampire," said Long.
She lives about a block away from Cavazos Elementary in a neighborhood where her kids will be trick or treating on Wednesday night.
Long says her children have been looking forward to Halloween for a long time, but once she learned about the number of registered sex offenders living with 3 miles of her home, she was speechless.
"That's a lot," said Long while staring at the list.
In a search done on the Texas Department of Public Safety's website Big2 found 45 registered sex offenders living within 3 miles of Cavazos elementary school.
"It's a little more scary," stated Long. "I think the parents should be with their kids," referring to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
But Cavazos isn't the only school with these kinds of neighbors.
In fact many schools in the Permian basin have hundreds of registered sex offenders living nearby.
But here's the thing, they're all following Texas law which states that a paroled sex offender can't live within 500 feet of a school.
Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson says even though these people aren't breaking the law his department, as well as the Odessa Police Department-- are already taking extra measures to prevent any problems this Halloween.
"Anybody that's on parole or probation, they are reporting to those offices tonight (Wednesday evening)," said Sheriff Donaldson.
Donaldson also says those who aren't required to report to the Odessa Police or the Ector County Sheriff Departments are still not allowed to hand out candy or even have their light on Wednesday night.
That's comforting to Long who says she'll be with her kids at every door, and urges other parents do the same.
"Go with your kids and walk with them to every door," said Long. "You never know who's there."
Like Jenne Anderson's page on Facebook!
