Registered sex offenders file LAWSUIT claiming they were ‘humiliated’ after Georgia sheriff placed signs in their yards warning kids ‘no trick or treat at this address’
- A sheriff in Georgia has signs in yards of sex offenders warning not to trick or treat at their homes
- The sex offenders are suing the Butts County Sheriff, claiming their constitutional rights are being violated
- Sheriff Gary Long: ‘I WILL do everything within the letter of the law to protect the children of this community.’
- A hearing was held Thursday in federal court, no ruling has made by judge
- One sex offender, according to the lawsuit, was told if the sign was removed before Halloween he’d be arrested
- The plaintiffs, who claim they were humiliated, seek a jury trial and damages
A group of registered sex offenders is suing a county sheriff in Georgia after placing signs warning not to trick or treat at their houses.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long’s office first posted the large white signs in the offenders’ yards last Halloween, and they plan to do it again this year.
However, a federal class action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court could put the brakes on it in time for next week’s door to door festivities.
The posters include images of two stop signs, the ‘no’ symbol plastered across a Halloween bag and the message: ‘WARNING! NO TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THIS ADDRESS!!’
According to the lawsuit, one deputy told an offender he could be arrested if he removed the sign before Halloween night.
Long wrote on his Facebook page that the measure was done to ‘ensure the safety of our children.’
A sign placed on yards of registered sex offenders in one Georgia community, and they have a federal lawsuit against the practice claiming it’s ‘unlawful and invalid’
Sheriff Gary Long from Butts County, Georgia has been sued by a group of sex offenders for placing signs urging families not to trick or treat there for Halloween
The suit is on behalf of all of the registered sex offenders in the county southeast of Atlanta and, NBC News says, it contends that the placing of the signs violates laws against trespassing on private property and the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights against forced speech.
The sex offenders claim in the suit that they were left humiliated and embarrassed by last year’s signs and seek the judge to declare the sheriff’s practice ‘unlawful and invalid.’
Sheriff Long posted on his Facebook page that the judge has not ruled yet and provided an update that his office is being inundated with calls about Thursday’s hearing.
He has been advised to not comment until the judge makes a decision.
‘Regardless of the judge’s ruling, I WILL do everything within the letter of the law to protect the children of this community.’
The plaintiffs seek a jury trial and damages.