COOK COUNTY, Ga – Cook County’s Devant Lamont Miller, age 21, has pleaded guilty to child molestation and statutory rape of a 12-year-old female during his sentencing last week.
Miller was sentenced to 30 years, with 15 years to be served in a Georgia prison. His sentence will also include banishment from the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, and registration as a sex offender.
Chief Superior Court Judge Howard McClain took Miller’s guilty plea and entered the sentence against him
“It is a great relief to have a predator like Devante Miller off the street and to know that our children are safer today with Miller in prison. Individuals that harm children shall be punished to the full extent of the law. I am proud that my office continues to prosecute and imprison people who harm children in this judicial circuit,” District Attorney Dick Perryman stated. “I must thank the Sparks Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work on this case. I must also thank ADA Jennifer Rue Smith for her dedication in seeing this case to its conclusion.”
May 13, 2020 at 6:23 AM EDT – Updated May 13 at 6:23 AM
MOHAVE COUNTY FATAL SHOOTING
Mohave County officials ID man killed in driveway shooting
TOPOCK, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities have identified a 50-year-old man who was killed in a shooting in a community in Arizona’s northwestern Mohave County. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday the body of Jeffrey Joseph Dufour, of Topock, was found Sunday in the driveway of a home. He had multiple gunshot wounds. Dufour’s name was withheld until authorities could notify his family of his death. Sheriff’s deputies say they arrested 48-year-old Jennifer Dawn Priole of Topock and booked her into the local jail on suspicion of felony second-degree murder. An online search did not reveal whether Priole has an attorney yet who can comment on the charges.
PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Doug Ducey will allow gyms and public swimming pools to reopen and will allow his stay-at-home order to expire as he continues allowing normal activities to resume amid the coronavirus outbreak. Gyms and pools are among the last remaining facilities that have not been allowed to operate. They can open their doors on Wednesday. Ducey warned that lifting the restrictions does not mean a return to a normal way of life. Ducey’s stay-home order was set to expire on Friday, and he said he won’t renew it.
TRIBES-CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDING
Judge: US not unreasonably delaying virus relief for tribes
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge says the U.S. Treasury Department is not unreasonably delaying the release of coronavirus relief funding to Native American tribes. The department is tasked with disbursing $8 billion to tribes that was included in a relief package approved in late March. Payments didn’t start going out until more than a week after the April 26 deadline set by Congress. Despite that, the federal judge rejected an assertion that the Treasury secretary was “twiddling his thumbs.” The judge’s ruling comes in a case tribal nations filed against the federal government to force the release of the entire $8 billion.
POLICE SHOOTING DEATH-PHOENIX
Mom alleges excessive force by Phoenix police in son’s death
PHOENIX (AP) — The mother of a 29-year-old man killed by Phoenix police during a trespassing call filed a lawsuit alleging that officers pinned down her son before fatally shooting him. The lawsuit filed Monday in the death of Hector Lopez alleged two officers used excessive force after approaching Lopez and his sister in May 2019 as they slept in a parked car. Police have said both officers opened fire after Lopez grabbed a gun and pointed it at them. Phoenix officers shot 15 people last year, including 12 who died. Police declined to comment on the lawsuit.
ELECTION 2020-ARIZONA-GUNS
Gun-control group plans to spend $5 million in Arizona
PHOENIX (AP) — A gun-control advocacy group co-founded by Mike Bloomberg says it will spend $5 million on Arizona political campaigns this year. Everytown for Gun Safety said Tuesday the money will support Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, Mark Kelly’s Senate bid and candidates running in five legislative districts. Arizona is increasingly being eyed by big-spending political groups as Democrats make gains in the former Republican stronghold. The spending on advertising and grassroots organizing is focused especially on Maricopa County, where the group sees a receptive audience in the fast-growing suburbs of Phoenix.
ARIZONA FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Forest outside metropolitan Phoenix ups fire restrictions
PHOENIX (AP) — Higher temperatures and dried-out grass have pushed a national forest outside Phoenix into further fire restrictions. Tonto National Forest supervisor Neil Bosworth says implementing the Stage II restrictions will help prevent human-caused wildfires. Campfires already had been banned on all six national forests in Arizona until the end of June. The Tonto’s restrictions that went into effect Tuesday also prohibit other open flames and limit the use of combustion power tools. Smoking is allowed in enclosed vehicles or in buildings. Violating fire restrictions comes with a potential fine of up to $5,000 and six months behind bars.
WOMAN KILLED-SUSPECT ARRESTED
Phoenix police arrest suspect in woman’s death last week
PHOENIX (AP) — Police in Phoenix say a man who’s a registered sex offender has been arrested in connection with the death of a woman last week. They say 29-year-old Humphry Dogbe has been booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, sexual assault and kidnapping. He’s being held on a $1 million bond with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 18. Police say a woman was found dead on the pavement of a commercial fueling station last Friday with her clothes partially removed. Her name hasn’t been released. Witnesses told police they saw a man dragging a woman through the parking lot. Police say some of the incident was captured on surveillance video and that led to Dogbe’s arrest.
Man caught in Kingman after pursuit in stolen police Humvee
KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) — A man accused of stealing a police vehicle has been arrested in Kingman after leading authorities on a car pursuit. Kingman police say they received reports Sunday night that a Humvee was driving erratically and hit another car. Officers attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle continued. The Humvee then stalled and the driver refused officers’ request to get out of the vehicle. Authorities say the suspect then got the Humvee started again and hit two Kingman police cars. That is when officers fired their weapons at the car. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Police booked 26-year-old Michael Joseph Lapeer into Mohave County Jail.
Today, Restore Georgia, an organization representing the 23,000 citizens on Georgia’s Sexual Offender Registry, mailed a letter to Executive Director J. Terry Norris of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds, and all 159 Sheriffs across our state urging them to implement strategies to reduce COVID-19 exposure among law enforcement officials and those required to register, as well as their families at home and the broader community.
During the annual registration verification process, people are required to be photographed and fingerprinted in-person. This hands-on registration process places officers at risk by forcing them to place hands on potentially dozens of people each day.
Restore Georgia is calling upon the Sheriffs of all Georgia counties to:
Suspend in-person registration requirements;
Waive or suspend enforcement of housing proximity restrictions;
Waive or suspend arrests and prosecutions for failure-to-comply offenses;
Suspend fees for registration;
Suspend in-person address verification.
Sheriffs departments across the State of Georgia should suspend rules and policies that are not essential to public safety or that contribute to the spread of COVID-19. These strategies allow law enforcement, on the front-lines of this catastrophe to dedicate more of their limited resources toward crisis intervention and emergency assistance.
They say that sunlight is the best antiseptic. Shining a light in dark places where the public has a right to know is what makes Sunshine Week of such value to us all.
This week serves as a reminder of the value of the freedom of the press and why it should matter to all of us. Sunshine Week reminds us of the importance of the free press and protecting the public’s right to know, particularly in today’s world where transparency is far too less of a norm within the walls of our government at every level.
Media professionals remain under constant scrutiny and our press is often under attack by both the public and from those in charge of leading our government. While there are often walls set up to circumvent transparency and open government, we must continue fighting the good fight because the First Amendment protects our right to know what goes on and how we are governed. That should be held in high regard by all of us, not just those working in media.
Our system of government was established with checks and balances for a reason, and media, as the Fourth Estate, plays an important role in that system. It is our responsibility to call out those who overstep their bounds and hide behind misinformation, half-truths and cover-ups. Otherwise, we would be like those other nations where the voice of the people is silenced, government is far from transparent, and decisions are masked from the general public.
The First Amendment protects our right to know whether there are burglaries in our neighborhoods or if a convicted sex offender lives down the street. It protects our right to know how our tax dollars are spent and gives us access to information on what type of business is going up next door to our property and our schools. It gives us access to information on the back door deals that some don’t want us to know about, and others choose to ignore.
Sunshine Week is a reminder that transparency and open government isn’t just about media — it’s about all of us. We all must champion our right to know.
Even when we are not fond of the press or when we disagree on coverage, we must uphold press freedoms and the rights our First Amendment grants as part of our democracy. We warrant a critical eye as media, and so deserved. If we wish to examine other entities with scrutiny then we must accept that the tables can be turned on us as well. That doesn’t mean, however, that we should be shut out simply because the press or information we provide is less than flattering. Yes, we should be champions of our community and share good news about local happenings. But we must also be watchdogs — we can and should be both.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we all navigate a new era of separating fact from fiction, precaution and panic, Sunshine Week reminds us that journalism, the real work of the free press, is a vital part of our democracy, our public and our way of life.
It still has value.
Jeannette Farmer Eady, 74, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Nunn-Wheeler Cemetery with the Rev. Freddie Hogg officiating. Mrs. Eady was born in Milledgeville and was a graduate of Baldwin County High School. She worked for Dr. …
Grady Ray Townsend (Pop) of Oxford, passed away Friday, May 15, 2020, at the age of 89. A Marine, Mr. Townsend valiantly served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a faithful member of Heritage Hills Baptist Church. He was a hardworking, selfless man w…
Benjie Dewayne Fountain, 58, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2020. Private services will be held at West View Cemetery. Benjie was a life-long resident of Baldwin County. He was a retired electrician. He was preceded in death by his father, James E. Fountain; and two brothers, Eddie Fountain a…
A private burial service for Mrs. Lois Gilbert of Sparta, Ga., will be held for family. Her memories shall forever remain in the heart of her children, Johnnie Gilbert, Jennie Rous, Brenda Gilbert, Polly Wheeler, Eddie Gilbert, Bobby Gilbert, Deborah Gilbert, Timmy Gilbert, Trudy Butt and Ro…
Funeal services for Mrs. Evelyn R. Abram of Sparta, Ga., will be held privately with family. Her memories will be cherished by her children, Timothy Duggans, Charles Duggans, Kathy Harper, Lucious Abrams, Reva Williams and Vanessa Cheathem. Services entrusted to Dawson’s Mortuary, 98 Hopgood…
Rep. Steven Sainz, a Republican from Woodbine, says his House Bill 720 will give the state more ability for for lifetime tracking of some felon sex offenders. His bill was advanced on Crossover Day with a 98-63 vote. House Media Services photo
State lawmakers scrambled last year to close a loophole after the Georgia Supreme Court ruled the state was unconstitutionally requiring some sex offenders to wear ankle monitors after they completed their sentence.
Last week, Georgia House members sent House Bill 720 for the Senate to review just before the 2020 legislative session was suspended. It passed the House of Representatives with a 98-63 vote on Thursday’s Crossover Day over objections by Democrats that the proposed lengthy probation requirements are too harsh. The bill adds a list of felony sex offenses that would get mandatory lifetime probation in the case of a second conviction.
The Supreme Court decision released 400 sexual offenders classified by the state as dangerous predators from state GPS monitoring. Rep. Steven Sainz said the crimes listed in his bill like sex trafficking, aggravated sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes are serious enough to warrant a lifetime of around-the-clock GPS tracking after the offender is released from prison.
The legislation has elicited strong opposition from Democrats who say it goes against criminal justice reform efforts by unfairly lumping some offenses together for a potential lifetime sentence of probation or 30 years in prison because of a probation violation.
A judicial review is called for after the first 10 years and subsequent five year periods to determine if the offender is rehabilitated enough to have their sentence reduced.
Republican Chuck Efstration said the bill is consistent with the criminal justice reform push that he served on a council for during Gov. Nathan Deal’s administration.
“We are saying that for the most serious offenders, where public safety is in jeopardy, we are going to allow oversight to ensure that the public is protected,” said Efstration, who lives in Gwinnett County.
Georgia law already requires life imprisonment or probation for anyone convicted of forcible rape, felony aggravated child molestation, felony aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery.
Democrat Minority House Leader Bob Trammell says the proposed monitoring rules are overbearing.
“This is a step backwards,” said the Luthersville resident. “If we decide that any of these crimes need to be sentenced in a more harsh manner, then we should deal with those crimes individually, but what we should not do, is tack on at the end probation for life.”
Rep. Gregg Kennard, a minister and director of a transitional reentry program, said the state already has safeguards in place such as the sexual offender registry and rules that prevent sex offenders them from living near schools.
“I find unduly punitive and stigmatizing research proves that the offending individual who is further penalized and stigmatized will cease to respond positively to treatment because there’s a sense of futility,” the Lawrenceville Democrat said.
By Larry . . . In the last few days NARSOL has received comments regarding our decision to litigate the Halloween signs required by some sheriffs in the state of Georgia. The writer raised some legitimate questions even though he could have conveyed them with a bit more tact and politeness.
NARSOL chose to litigate the Halloween signs for a number of reasons. First, compelled placement of the signs threatens the safety of all occupants in the residence because of the potential for violence. Second, the constitution of the United States prohibits compelled speech by the government. Third, there is no statutory authority to support the actions of the sheriffs in Butts and Spalding Counties. Fourth, for NARSOL to stand idly by while law enforcement invents requirements jeopardizes everyone because there is no end of creativity in the law enforcement community. What will they invent next, and should we just stand down and hope for the best while they do so?
The writer bitterly complained: (1) that the Georgia General Assembly will soon vote on HB 720. This legislation will permit Halloween signs to be posted in the front yard of all registrants; and (2) the vast majority of registrants in the state of Georgia were not subjected to Halloween signs. He concluded by saying, “Thanks to NARSOL, the rest of us are facing the same humiliation . . . ” The Georgia House of Representatives did vote to pass HB 720, and it is now in the Senate awaiting consideration. No hearing has been scheduled due to the suspension of the legislative session due to the pandemic and health concerns.
He even opined that the action by the state was easy to forecast. He is correct. NARSOL did anticipate that such a proposal would be introduced and likely enacted into law by the Georgia General Assembly. The problem with ignoring the renegade sheriffs in Georgia was that the cancer would have spread throughout the state had NARSOL not intervened. In fact, the action was recommended by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, and other counties had announced similar intentions regarding mandatory placement of Halloween signs. Actually, the sheriff of Ben Hill County announced he would erect the signs this past Halloween, and NARSOL immediately sent a cease-and desist-letter. Beyond that, simply ignoring constitutional violations because it does not impact everyone is a misguided strategy. In fact, that is part of the reason we have marked passports. Several states chose to require that driver’s licenses actually bear the words “sexual offender”; if there had been even one successful challenge against this, case law would be in existence to aid in fighting marked passports. NARSOL felt that the Halloween sign requirement was likely to spread to all 159 counties in the state of Georgia.
NARSOL does anticipate that HB 720 has a good chance of passage once the session reconvenes. That said, we are prepared to challenge the constitutionality of the legislation once it is signed by Governor Kemp. The case law on compelled speech is favorable to our position, and we believe that our chances of victory are quite good. It is critically important that our constituents understand that each victory builds the body of case law which helps us in other challenges. If we had done nothing, there would not be the Does v. Snyder decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, nor would there be many other victories which have been won in recent years. NARSOL has stated on numerous occasions that all laws enjoy the presumption of constitutionality upon enactment, and that the challenging party bears the burden of showing by the clearest of proof that the challenged statute is invalid. That being said, this particular challenge is a very strong one in our opinion because the First Amendment of the United States Constitution is something that the courts have been consistent in protecting. This particular challenge enjoys the support of the Alliance of Constitutional Sex Offense Laws as well as NARSOL.
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Larry serves as NARSOL’S treasurer, publisher of the Digest, and co-chair of the conference planning committee. He also hosts the “NARSOL in Action” and “Can They Do That?” webinars and is a regular on the “Registry Matters” podcasts.
By Fred . . . Last October, in a lawsuit that was initiated and financed by NARSOL, Federal Judge Marc T. Treadwell ruled against Sheriff Long and other officials of Butts County, Georgia, by granting a preliminary injunction to stop the placement of warning signs each Halloween on the property of those required to be on the sex offender registry. Sheriffs and county officials “. . . should be aware that the authority for their blanket sign posting is dubious at best and even more dubious if posted over the objection of registrants“, Judge Treadwell wrote in his order after agreeing that the practice violated the constitutional rights of registrants.
As he promised to do, Sheriff Long has appealed the decision to the 11th Circuit Court. NARSOL along with ACSOL submitted an amicus brief in support of the appellate challenge being led by Georgia attorneys Mark Yurachek and Mark Begnaud. Last month, NARSOL’s executive director, Brenda Jones, said that NARSOL is confident Judge Treadwell’s decision will be affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit.
The grounds for initiating the lawsuit were in part based on the fact that there is nothing in the state or local law that requires signs to be placed in the yards of registrants. To remedy this lack of legislation, a bill sponsored by State Representatives Steven Sainz(R), Chuck Efstration(R), Barry Fleming(R), James Burchett(R), Martin MomTahan(R) and Marcus Wiedower(R) was introduced to the General Assembly with the aim of making the sign placement and other stipulations part of Georgia’s law. On Thursday HB 720 passed in the House with a vote of 98-63 and is now on its way to the Senate where it has a good chance of passing. The high number of votes in opposition were due, at least in part, to the hard work by NARSOL’s Georgia advocates and other groups in their tireless letter writing campaign.
According to our advocate in Georgia:
Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact Department of Community Supervision Commissioner Michael Nail urging him to publicly oppose HB 720 as it would create a burden on his agency and make our communities less safe. The Senate Judiciary Committee will be responsible for what happens next. Many advocacy groups came together in letter writing campaigns, which was instrumental in creating the the significant opposition. This campaign will only grow stronger as the bill moves through the Senate.
NARSOL fully expected and anticipated this legislative action by the Georgia General Assembly in response to the pending lawsuit, and we understand the concerns that will arise from those affected. However, to sit back and do nothing in the face of a blatant violation to the rights of those on the registry is simply not an option. If one sheriff is allowed to overstep the boundaries of his authority, it would be only a matter of time before every sheriff in Georgia adopted the same policy and expanded its use past just Halloween. NARSOL is determined to not to let that happen for the well-being of all Georgia registrants and their families.
The lawsuit will continue on constitutional grounds, regardless of whether or not HB 720 becomes law. We are confident that we will prevail in court and that any unconstitutional laws passed in retaliation to our legal action will be challenged if they are not struck by the 11th Circuit Court’s decision in this case.
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Fred began volunteering with NARSOL as a gatekeeper and correspondent. Later he became involved with the tech committee to help with the development and maintenance of our many website projects. He devotes much of his time to helping the team ensure that NARSOL’s operations are running as smoothly as possible so that we can continue to grow and reach more people.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office is looking for Crystal Garren. (Source: Coffee County Sheriff’s Office)
By Kim McCullough| March 11, 2020 at 3:45 PM EDT – Updated March 11 at 3:45 PM
DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) – The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office needs the community’s help looking for a convicted sex offender, according to a Facebook post.
Crystal Lynn Garren was convicted in Cook County for enticing a child for indecent purposes in February 2003. Garren is required to register as a sex offender as part of her sentence, according to deputies.
Deputies said Garren has been living in Coffee County since 2016 and in February 2018, she was charged for failing to register an address change after leaving the address she was registered at and not providing a new one.
Garren’s case was set up to be tried this week in Coffee County Superior Court but she failed to show up for her court appearance on Monday, according to deputies.
The Superior Court judge has issued a bench warrant for her arrest.
If you know Garren’s whereabouts, please call the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 384-4227, Coffee County E-911 at (912) 384-7675 or call the anonymous tip line at (912) 383 TIPS.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators need your help in locating Crystal Lynn Garren. Garren was convicted in…
Yesterday in Georgia, House Bill 720 moved out of Committee by a 6-3 vote and is headed to the floor for a vote. THIS IS A TERRIBLE BILL for registered persons in Georgia. The intent is to protect the vulnerable citizens of Georgia from roughly 400 Tier 3 registrants that are no longer required to wear an electronic monitoring device (ankle monitor) once they have completed their sentence. Unfortunately the legislature has chosen to “fix” the issue by introducing legislation that would overwhelm the Department of Community Supervision and impose unnecessary burdens. In a nutshell, the bill would restrict Judges from deviating from mandatory minimum sentencing, require that lifetime probation be implemented upon conviction of a second sexual offence, remove first offender eligibility for all sexual offenses (it is up to the court’s discretion today), and make it lawful for law enforcement agencies to place Halloween signs.
Rep. Sainz, who is the lead sponsor on this bill, incorrectly stated that “we know that a sexual offender is most likely to reoffend within a period of around five years.”
Here is what this BAD BILL would do:
Any person convicted of a sexual offense shall be sentenced to a split sentence which shall include the minimum term of imprisonment specified in the Code section applicable to such sexual offense.
No portion of the mandatory minimum sentence imposed shall be suspended, stayed, probated, deferred, or withheld by the court.
Any such sentence shall include, in addition to the mandatory term of imprisonment, an additional probated sentence of be followed by probation for at least one year
No person convicted of a sexual offense shall be sentenced as a first offender
For convictions that are felonies and that are for a second or subsequent conviction for a sexual offense arising out of events that are different from events of a previous conviction, such probation shall be for life.
Any law enforcement agency of competent jurisdiction may, on October 30 and 31 of each year, post a sign upon the front of the residence of any person on such probation, stating the following: ‘No candy or treats at this residence.’ Such signs shall further be in the form as provided for by the department.
When a probationer is on probation for life as provided for in Code 310 Section 17-10-6.2, The Department of Community Supervision (DCS) shall file a petition to terminate his or her probation if, after serving ten years on probation, the probationer has:
Paid all restitution owed
Not had his or her probation revoked during such period
Not been arrested for anything other than a nonserious traffic offense
If a petition for a probationer who is on probation for life as provided for in Code 323 Section 17-10-6.2 is not granted, a petition shall be filed every five years thereafter
We are encouraging everyone in Georgia to contact their State Representatives asking them to vote NO on HB 720. If this bill crosses over next week, we will fight to stop it from being voted on in the Senate. You can find your State Representative by clicking here.
You can watch a recording of the committee meeting here (Starts at 50:42):
Hundreds of Georgia sex offenders deemed dangerous enough that they were forced to wear ankle monitors last year are no longer tracked in the wake of a March 2019 Georgia Supreme Court decision. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Georgia legislation that would lead to a lifetime sentence for people convicted of at least two felony sexual offenses moved through a House committee on Thursday.
State Rep. Steven Sainz filed House Bill 720 in response to a state Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that found it unconstitutional for law enforcement agencies to force sex offenders to be electronically monitored after they served their sentence. The bill, however, continues to generate criticism about its fairness in mandating life sentences.
The legislation clears the way for law enforcement to use more ankle monitors to track offenders after they are released from jail or prison.
Sainz said the proposed law could give state and local law enforcement more oversight to keep vulnerable Georgians safe from potentially dangerous people.
The legislation also requires an automatic judicial review after the offender serves 10 years on probation.That’ll give a judge a chance to review enough information to see if the sentence should be relaxed, Sainz said at Thursday’s House committee meeting.
“We know a sex offender is most likely to re-offend within a period of five years,” he said. “This allows us to have applicable information to make sure we’re not taking a tool that allows the safety of Georgians away prematurely but also not continuing this life probation on individuals that aren’t seemed to be a risk for re-offense.”
However, a representative of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers says that the measure is still too harsh.
Georgia law already requires life imprisonment or probation for anyone convicted of forcible rape, felony aggravated child molestation, felony aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery.
“We believe that ankle monitoring should remain a requirement only for the people determined to have the greatest risk to reoffend and should remain discretionary for everyone else,” media chair Amanda Clark-Palmer said by email.
The life sentence also raises questions about what would happen if the offender’s probation is revoked, putting their fate in the hands of a judge.
“The consequence of that is that the person is not eligible for parole until they’ve served 30 years,” Clark-Palmer said.
The bill also proposes to allow local law enforcement agencies to post signs outside homes of sex offenders to warn trick-or-treaters to stay on away on Halloween.
A group of registered sex offenders filed a lawsuit against the Butts County Sheriff’s Office in 2019 for placing signs outside of sex offenders home, that included claims that the signs violated constitutional rights against forced speech.
Rep. Ed Setzler, a member of the committee, said that issue should be resolved by having state law give local jurisidcations the discretion to place the signs outside a sex offender’s residence.
