58 Sex Offenders Arrested For Violating Probation On Halloween

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — At least 58 registered sex offenders were arrested in Hillsborough County on Halloween for violating probation or for committing new crimes during annual checks to ensure offenders aren't around kids on Halloween.

During the yearly Operation Halloween, representatives of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Department of Corrections visited 123 registered sex offenders to make sure they were complying with the rules of their probation that prohibit contact with children, including handing out candy to kids on Halloween.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, 83 of the sex offenders who were visited were complying with the terms of their probation. However, 37 were arrested for violating their probation and 21 were arrested on new felony charges.

Authorities also collected multiple electronic devices after obtaining search warrants to conduct a forensic analysis of their content.

Chronister said there could be additional charges as a result of the examination of those electronic devices.

"I am grateful to all of our law enforcement partners, and the hardworking and dedicated employees of team HCSO for their work in ensuring that our community is safe on Halloween," said Chronister. "There is nothing scarier than the thought of our children in the dangerous grasp of a predator."