A group of convicted Georgia sex offenders filed a lawsuit against the Butts County sheriff in an attempt to stop “No Trick or Treat” signs from being placed in their yards.
The New York Times reports that according to the lawsuit, three sex offenders, Christopher Reed, Reginald Holden and Corey McClendon, were told by Butts County Sheriff Gary Long to display the signs in their yard or “face unspecified trouble.”
According to Long, the signs are in connection with Georgia state law that prohibits convicted sex offenders from participating in Halloween events involving children.
The plaintiffs said that during Halloween season last year, the sheriff trespassed onto their properties to place the signs. They’re arguing that their constitutional rights are being violated.
“I’m just not sure that this kind of action makes your kids any safer,” the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mark Yurachek, said, according to FOX Atlanta. “It just makes your constitutional rights less safe…..The trespass stuff is pretty clear. They’re coming onto their property and putting the signs on there.”
Yurachek added that there is no Georgia law that requires sex offenders to displays signs in their yards.
“They are individuals who have been brave enough to not be afraid to let the public know that they are registered sex offenders, but are also not willing to tolerate this unlawful action by the sheriff…The law allows the sheriff to put a list of registered sex offenders at his office, at the courthouse, on the internet. It does not allow him to go door-to-door telling people you have a sex offender living next door to you.”
The lawyer said that Georgia sex offenders are listed in the sex registry, but they have no legal obligation to inform neighbors or the public of their status.
Long plans to argue that his intentions are to keep children safe, according to Butts County SO Facebook post.
“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.”
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Sex Offender Registry, Reed was convicted in 2007 of aggravated sexual battery and sexual assault of a minor. Holden was convicted in 2002 of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. In 2001, McClendon was convicted of statutory rape.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Macon. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Here is our latest episode.
[Feature Photo: Butts County/Facebook]
