Three sex offenders in Butts County, Georgia are suing their local sheriff for putting up "no trick or treating at this address" warning signs in their front yards to warn trick or treaters that a sex offender lives there. The three sex offenders Christopher Reed, Reginald Holden, and Corey McClendon are suing Sheriff Gary Long along with this other deputies for placing these signs up because they think it violates their rights. The offender's attorney, Mark Yurachek filed a lawsuit on their behalf saying the signs inflict embarrassment, anxiety, and humiliation on them. He went on to say: "I understand that there are a lot of people who think this is a great idea, who think, “Yeah, this protects my kids,” but what they should be thinking about is, “Does this protect my rights?"
This is the sign the Butts County Sheriff's Department put out:
Sheriff Gary Long addressed on Facebook, the lawsuit filed against him and his colleagues over the warning signs...
"PUBLIC NOTICE:
Last Halloween, the Chamber of Commerce cancelled “Halloween on the Square”. In doing so, our neighborhoods had a large increase in children going door-to-door. My office took precautions and placed signs indicating “No Trick or Treat” at each registered sex offender’s residence in the County. This was done to ensure the safety of our children.
Attorneys representing several sex offenders have filed a lawsuit against my staff and I. The sex offenders have asked a Federal Judge to stop my Office from placing these signs this year. This Thursday, we will argue to the Federal Court that we are protecting our children and following Georgia Law by placing these signs. Regardless of the Judge’s ruling this Thursday, I WILL do everything within the letter of the Law to protect the children of this Community.
As always it is an honor and privilege to serve as your Sheriff, I ask for your prayers this Thursday into this matter.
-Sheriff Gary Long"
Do you have a problem with these warning signs? I do not. I get it's a bit aggressive but if I was a parent I would want to know what houses my kids are visiting that might belong to a sex offender. Maybe tone it down and do a flag campaign and every house with a purple flag is a sex offender's house...maybe get rid of the attention grabbing signs but I like the awareness effort by the local police department. Yes these offenders have already served their time and you might say there is a public sex offender registry list so why put up additional signs? Because it's a public safety risk where kids will be approaching a potentially dangerous house. Do you think some of these kids look up the sex offender list online? Doubtful and maybe parents don't either so I think you committed the crime, you don't have the same rights as other regular citizens. I understand there are different levels of sex offenders so maybe only put up signs in the yards of level 3 sex offenders because I understand some people are listed for some ridiculous things like urinating in public, etc. and that's a tough thing but there really is no excuse if you're an offender who has raped a little child...the sign goes up.
-Producer Lightning