KANSAS CITY — Jerry P. Inman spent Halloween weekend rallying with a Christian motorcycle group in Arkansas.
But that didn't stop prosecutors in Missouri from charging him with violating the state's new law aimed at keeping children away from registered sex offenders on Halloween night.
Call it Missouri's five-and-a-half-hour law — in force from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. only one night a year.
It requires registered sex offenders to stay indoors the night of Oct. 31, turn off their homes' exterior lights and post "no candy or treats at this residence" signs on their doors.
Despite questions about the law's constitutionality, at least three prosecutors have filed charges against offenders who they say failed to comply last year.
In Christian County south of Springfield, prosecutors charged 18 men, including Inman, with the misdemeanor. That is 31 percent of the county’s 58 registered offenders.
In Greene County, where Springfield is located, authorities charged 11 offenders. Two have pleaded guilty and received suspended sentences. The first trial in that county is scheduled April 13.
Read the full story at KansasCity.com