Halloween sex-offender sweep nets arrests in LA County

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- "Operation Safe Halloween," a county-wide compliance check on the L.A. County Probation Department's highest-risk child predators, netted several arrests Friday.

Los Angeles County has a warning for sex offenders this Halloween: Stay away from children. The message is clear: Any behavior and any device used to attract children will be dealt with harshly.

Before sunrise, L.A. County Special Enforcement officers deployed from eight staging areas to check on child sex-offenders. Five sex-offenders were arrested. Five computers, 13 USB sticks and memory cards, three computer towers, marijuana and a methamphetamine pipe were confiscated.

Officers from the Probation Department arrested 32-year-old Christopher McQueen at a residence in Pomona.

Officers found a 10-year-old girl spending the night at the house, a violation of the convicted sex-offender's parole.

"He was detained in May of last year for the same type of activity, and it's obvious that he doesn't understand his conditions," said L.A. County Probation Officer Steven Howell.

The girl was actually sharing a bed with her grandfather. He was arrested for outstanding warrants of DUI and drug possession.

Drug paraphernalia was also found in the home.

The girl's mother, McQueen's girlfriend, was also taken into custody for child endangerment.

The Department of Child and Family Services took the 10-year-old out of the home.

In Santa Clarita, a 22-year-old sex offender living with his mother was arrested. Officers learned the mother runs what appears to be a child daycare service out of the home. A female tenant at the residence living with her infant son and 9-year-old daughter told officers she did not know the man was a convicted sex offender.

"It's extremely important for the Probation Department to protect the community against individuals that are threats to children," said Howell.

By law, registered offenders cannot put out decorations or pass out candy. They must turn off their lights and refuse to open their doors to children.

The sweep usually takes place on Halloween night, but offenders were catching on.

"They expect us to come at night, so this year we decided to do it during the daytime," said Howell. "We caught a lot of them going to work, before they went to work."

Despite their efforts Friday morning and continued vigilance at night, officers want parents to make sure they do their part.

"They have to be with their child tonight, and they have to make sure of what houses they're going to," said Howell. "If it's not lit up, they shouldn't go. If they think it doesn't look right, they shouldn't go."

A total of 48 locations were checked in L.A. County Friday.