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GoogleIn an effort to protect the public this Halloween season, the state-supervised sex offenders in Dyer County and across Tennessee received notices not to take part in any Halloween or fall festival activities.
In a Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole (BOPP) press release, Executive Director Bo Irvin said the goal is to protect the safety of the public and especially children.
"In past years, this effort has been highly effective," said Irvin. "By reminding offenders of the restrictions upon them, and the consequences of non-compliance, we make the harvest season safer for Tennessee families."
The letters advise sex offenders that:
* Neither they, nor anyone in their home, can answer the door to trick-or-treaters on Halloween;
* They cannot pass out candy;
* Their homes cannot be decorated for Halloween, either inside or outside;
* They cannot host Halloween parties at their homes;
* They cannot go to haunted houses, corn mazes, hay rides or any other seasonal activity;
* They cannot be at any function where children are gathered, including private residences;
* They cannot give any Halloween treats to children;
* They cannot wear costumes and
* They cannot take any child trick-or-treating.
These restrictions were discussed with the sex offenders by their probation/parole officers. The offenders had to sign statements saying they understood the restrictions and would comply with them.
Probation/parole officers will also be checking on these offenders to make sure they are following the restrictions.
Tennessee state law also says a sex offender cannot pretend to be, dress as, impersonate or otherwise assume the identity of a real or fictional person or character or a member of a profession, vocation or occupation while in the presence of a minor, or with the intent to attract or entice a minor to be in the presence of the offender. This law is year-round and doesn't apply only to Halloween.
The Dyersburg Police Department and Dyer County Sheriff's Department also supervise sex offenders and are asking the public to be careful this Halloween and avoid addresses of sex offenders.
"We're asking them to avoid these locations," said Dyersburg Police Department Capt. Steve Isbell. "Also they should not enter into anyone's home."
He also reminds children to not go out alone.
"We urge all children not to trick or treat by themselves, but work in groups and have adults with them," said Isbell.
Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt will have extra patrols running that evening and wants parents to watch their children.
"All parents have to use caution and know where their children are going," said Holt. "If you notice anything strange happening in the neighborhood it should be reported to law enforcement."
 Dyersburg map of sexual offenders' addresses |
The information is public and updated daily based on information submitted to the TBI.
"The purpose of the registry is to make the public aware of who is in their neighborhood," said TBI attorney Pam Beck.
She also reminds residents not to only be aware during Halloween, but year-round.
The Dyer County addresses listed here were taken from the TBI's sex offender registry on Oct. 29, 2009.
These are the addresses that a sex offender has listed as their place of residence. The crime the sex offender has committed is listed beside the address. The list is a mixture of state, city and county supervised sex offenders.
 Addresses of sexual offenders in Dyer County [Click to enlarge] |
(1) 1020 Lincoln Ave.; sexual battery
(2) 1887 Cumberland St.; criminal sexual conduct in the third degree
(3) 927 Custer Ave.; Aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping of a minor
(4) 807 Scenic Hills, Newbern; Two counts of sexual battery
(5) 1838 Linden Road; Two counts of statutory rape and criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery
(6) 718 Byars St.; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(7) 2598 East Court St.; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(8) 114 Broadway Ave.; two counts of carnal abuse (Third degree)
(9) 3147 Highway 51 South; rape
(10) 1501 Morgan Road; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(11) 804 Wheeler St.; rape
(12) 517 Christie St.; sexual battery
(13) 407 Parks St., Newbern; statutory rape
(14) 2350 Hamer Road; attempted aggravated rape
(15) 420 Katie Cove; two counts of attempted aggravated sexual battery
(16) 608 Parks St., Newbern; statutory rape
(17) 3732 McCullough Chapel Road; attempted rape
(18) 601 Burgies Chapel Road; rape
(19) 1521 Shelly Ave.; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(20) 145 Longfellow Ave.; especially aggravated sexual exploitation
(21) 816 John Mark Drive; rape and indecent assault
(22) 219A Milner St.; two counts of statutory rape
(23) 426 Fuller Ave.; aggravated rape and incest with a minor
(24) 830 Brooks Ave.; statutory rape
(25) Incarcerated
(26) 1175 South Main St.; sexual battery
(27) 2441 St. John Ave.; incest
(28) 701 Melton Ave.; attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse (abuse? Only had a)
(29) 3285 Highway 210; aggravated sexual battery
(30) 1175 South Main St.; sexual battery
(31) 117 Cooley Drive; first-degree sexual abuse
(32) 1308 Moss St.; aggravated rape
(33) 629 Lee St.; statutory rape
(34) 1327 Speedway Ave.; aggravated criminal sexual abuse
(35) 255 Greenway St.; two counts of sexual abuse (first degree)
(36) 4552 Lenox-Nauvoo Road; statutory rape
(37) 727 Ashley Road; incest with a minor
(38) 1208 Meacham Road; fugitive molestation of a minor
(39) 2850 Ward Drive; statutory rape
(40) 1850 Ayers St. Apt. A; statutory rape
(41) 514 East Johnson St., Newbern; statutory rape with prior conviction
(42) 810 East Court St.; rape
(43) 5317 Millsfield Highway; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(44) 519 McGaughey St. West; sexual assault by guardian and criminal sexual contact
(45) 109 Bowen Lane; rape
(46) 1421 Ewell Ave.; statutory rape
(47) 532 East Thomas St.; attempted rape
(48) 839 Lake Road; aggravated incest
(49) 812 Main St.; sexual battery
(50) Incarcerated
(51) 1220 Jones St.; criminal sexual conduct (third degree)
(52) 1237 Featherstone Road, Newbern; statutory rape and rape
(53) 1826 Sam Houston Drive; sexual battery
(54) 1813 Schaffer St.; statutory rape
(55) 8704 Highway 412; statutory rape with prior conviction
(56) 706 Circle Drive; aggravated sexual battery
(57) 1616 Harris St.; sexual battery
(58) 411 Pate Ave.; first-degree sexual abuse
(59) 2105 St. John Ave.; sexual battery by an authority figure
(60) 134 Circle Drive; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(61) 1306 Highway 210; aggravated sexual battery, sexual battery and statutory rape with prior conviction
(62) Last registration/update unavailable
(63) 3605 Sorrell Chapel Road; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(64) 516 McDerman St.; aggravated sexual battery
(65) 2451 Lenox-Nauvoo Road; incest before May 30, 2007.
(66) 1750 Parks St.; sexual abuse (first degree)
(67) 535 Habitat Cove; statutory rape
(68) 1009 McArthur St.; two counts of rape
(69) 319 Richwood Road; statutory rape
(70) 422 Christie St.; statutory rape
(71) 1933 Cumberland St.; sexual battery
(72) 1225 Jones St.; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(73) 2224 St. John Ave.; attempted aggravated sexual battery
(74) 725 Byars St.; aggravated rape
(75) 104 J.B. Ave.; criminal sexual conduct (first degree)
(76) 1841 Welch Road; sexual battery
(77) 710 St. John Ave.; criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery
(78) 3147 Highway 51 Bypass; sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery
Disclaimer: The addresses listed here were taken from the TBI sex-offender registry Web site on 10/29/2009. The State Gazette and The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. The information contained in an offender's record does not imply listed individuals will commit a specific type of crime in the future, nor does it imply that if a future crime is committed by a listed individual what the nature of that crime may be. The State Gazette and the TBI make no representation as to any offender's likelihood of re-offending. If you believe that information concerning a specific offender is incorrect, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Sex Offender Registry at 888-837-4170.
Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-39-201, members of the public are not allowed to use information from the registry to inflict retribution or additional punishment to offenders. Harassment, stalking, or threats against offenders or members of their families are prohibited and doing so may violate both Tennessee criminal and civil laws.
The information listed here can be viewed on the TBI's Web site at http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/ .
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
Great infomation!
We are manufacturing sex offenders by including people who are no threat to anyone and who have harmed no one. We've sparked undue paranoia and made it more difficult to identify the real sex offenders, the ones people should actually be concerned with
I believe the REAL Boogyman are the news media and politicians who use fear mongering for ratings and votes.
Happy Halloween. Watch the traffic "
Looks like the map has blue chicken pox. It's so sad that there are that many sick people in our area. What's even worse is the many that haven't been caught yet.
I can remember when I was a child and it was safe to treat or treat door-to-door without a map of houses to avoid. Those were the days.......
I suggest everyone take advantage of the many churches and other organizations that host a Halloween carnival. It's easier and your kids will enjoy seeing all their friends. Also, if you must go doo-to-door limit it to people you know personally. Doing these things will ensure a safe and happy time for the children and less stress on the adults. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!
The Halloween restrictions are overly broad. The restrictions do little or nothing to protect children during the Halloween festivities. Although the measures are popular and considered well intentioned by the public the truthful result is that the restrictions equate to little more than a publicity stunt, initiated by the politicians and law enforcement and fueled by sensationalized media, and present a false sense of security to parents against a non existent threat.
Some of the facts to consider are:
1.There has never been a case on record of a child being molested by a registered sex offender while trick or treating.
2. It would be next to impossible for a child to be molested at the front door of a home, while dressed in costume, accompanied by other children, and hopefully, supervised by parents.
3. Many of the registered offenders are not on the registry because of a sexual molestation charge against children. Many registrants have been categorized as sexual offenders for charges of urinating in public, mooning someone, sunbathing nude,skinny dipping, having consentual sex while teenagers, sexting, .....the list goes on and on. In reality, there are probably not many people across our state and nation that would not qualify as a sex offender under todays legal interpretations.
4. The majority of sexual offenses against children occur in the home and are perpetrated by family members, relatives, and friends. The threat of "stranger danger" is minimal.
5. Contrary to popular belief, the recidivism (reoffense) rate of sex offenders is 3%-5%. This equates to the lowest reoffense rate of all crimes except for murder.
6. More children will be harmed or killed by darting out in front of cars while crossing the street or by igniting the flammable costumes being worn than by any other means. It makes me wonder, if the true intention of the laws were to protect the children, then why aren't flammable costumes illegal to sell within our state and why aren't convicted drunk drivers currently on probation / parole required to remain home on halloween night.
My other concern is that these laws not only effect the registrants but also penalize the spouses and children of the registrants. Probation and Parole is meant to be an opportunity for offenders to reintegrate into society and once again establish themselves as productive members of society while being given the opportunity to put their past behind them. The law does not allow a registered sex offender to ever once again become a vital part of his or her community. These laws generally translate into the blatant fact that each year there is a possibility of having to endure addition punishments and humiliation, at the hands of the legislators, in addition to or after the original sentence has been imposed. The truth also remains that the stigma of being listed on the registry lasts far longer than the probation period. Most registrants have to remain on the registry for twenty five years to life without the possibility of ever being removed. The Halloween restrictions are just the tip of the iceburg.The general public has been blinded to the injustices of the registry and the continued hardships that the laws bring upon the families of the registrants.
Our group, TN Voices of Reason, is still in the grassroots stages. Our efforts to lobby the state legislators has for the most part fallen on deaf ears. We are devoting our efforts at this time to educate the public to the facts relating to the registry and the detrimental effects these laws are having on our society as a whole. We feel our mission has to be two fold. First, we need to make the citizens aware that the registry laws are doing little to make our children and communities safer. The original purpose of the registry was to protect the public against the small group of predatory criminals who sought out, tortured, molested, and killed their victims. Unfortunately, the registry has turned into a means to advance the careers of politicians and give society a false illusion that the public are being protected while ruining the lives of many good people, along with their families, who made a past mistake or who in quite a few cases, were falsely accused. Most registrants want nothing more than to live productive, peaceful lives and overcome their past mistakes.
Our second, and equally important purpose, is to change the outlook of our politicians and public from an ever increasing punitive vision to one of prevention. All of the money wasted on maintaining the registry and overseeing the registrants would be better used to promote educational programs for the prevention of abuse before it occurs, the study and treatment of offenders to discover new effective means for offenders to overcome their addictions, a transition of our prison system from one of total punishment to one of treatment geared toward successful integration back into society upon release, and initiation of programs which stress the importance of parents taking an active role in their children's lives.
www.TN-voices-of-reason.com
Enlightened Rogue...the way I see it is: a sex offender is a sex offender is a sex offender. No matter how "pretty" you try and make it. Evidently YOU have never been a victim or had a family member victimized by a SEX OFFENDER.
I am glad to see this information posted. It has been proven time and again that sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated. Keep them away from our children & grandchildren. Of course, the ACLU will sue us but what the hay....
Who the hell wants to send their kid to a house and have a sex offender give them candy? No good parent I know! It's foolish to risk it these days. This is great information.
I think this law is unfair. A family member of mine is on that list because he had consentual sex with a girl a couple of years younger than him 15 years ago. I was 18 and my ex-wife was 16 when we got married. I had to get written permission from her mother or I would have made this list. I think it should only apply to the serious cases like child rape. It's a witch hunt that makes my family member feel like a monster when he didn't really do anything wrong. He's branded for life as a registered sex offender and this article just sent him back in deep depression. The laws need to be changed to keep people like my family member and other people that moon somebody off this list. There's nothing to fear at this house. I'll eat all the candy myself.
If you would bother to look most of them are rape related
whoopdedoo threefaze, underage doesn,t matter you are a sex offender too. What pisses me o0ff is there is one on each side of my mother,s house.
Lets see.....Elizabeth Smart: kidnapped from her own bedroom. Jaycee Dugard: taken at a school bus stop with kids around. Just recently Somer Thompson, walking home in her neighborhood..her murder is linked to a Sex Offender. There are so many other children that have fallen victim at the Sex Offenders hands that I will never know their names. My point is, Enlightened Rogue, these children were taken from their own homes, own bedrooms, own neighborhoods and at school bus stops with witnesses. What makes you think a sex offender is not going to take a child dressed up and enjoying Halloween? There are many sick people out there that would just jump at the chance to snatch a child! How dare you sugar coat a definition of a Sex Offender! I wish they had only printed their names again and are made to post a big sign in their front yards proclaiming they are Sex Offenders! Better yet lets lock them up and keep them where they can become Bubba's gal pal for the rest of their sick life!
I was 17 and she was 15 when we started dating Panhead. We married out of love for one another. It lasted 5 years and ended shortly after the untimely death of our second son. How the hell does that make me a sex offender? You're either misinformed or just an idiot.
you can be labeled a sex offender if you moon somebody?... liberals!
This is crazy! If they want to be a sex offender they should just become a judge or a clergyman!
YDS, how in the heck do you explain the statement that Liberals write these stupid laws? I want to hear your reasoning behind that.
This is to everyone defending sex offenders: 1. If you would read the list carefully the charges include rape,aggravated rape,aggravated sexual battery,incest,ect. These people are not on this list for stealing candy. 2. For the person who said there have been no cases of trick or treaters being molested-you know that how? Have you read EVERY newspaper in the country? Im pretty sure there are cases out there,we just haven't heard about them. 3. If a person can sexually molest a member of his/her family as all the incest offenders have do you honestly think they'd have a problem molesting a complete stranger who knocks on their door? How many children in this country have been killed by a neighbor or friend of the family? 4. Making sex offenders out to be the victims-as you people seem to be doing-is absurd? Why don't you people get fired up over the REAL victims? Remember them? The ones raped,beaten and abused? 5. It is people like you who make America dangerous for children. Instead of holding sex offenders accountable for their actions you make excuses and blame everyone(including the media for getting their names out there)except the ones who committed the crimes! I think it is every adult's responsibility to make sure the children in their community are safe.
Is sounds like instead of worrying only about the offenders we need to worry about the people who defend them too.
I totally sympathize for the REAL victims and the REAL offenders ought to be casterated or put to death but this law includes people who haven't done anything even remotely close to that. That's all I'm saying.
WELL....DUH....
ok, a girl that is 15 has consentual sex with an 18 year old. They get caught and the law sees it as rape and the 18 year old goes to jail. The 15 year old committs a murder and is charged as an adult???? what's up with that? She can't have sex because she is not old enough, but she/he can kill someone and is old enough to know better, so let's treat her/him like an adult. That is messed up!