Stoddard County, MO - As we approach Halloween and the holiday season, the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office has verified that there are presently have 119 registered sex offenders falling under the rules of the Halloween restriction portion of the statute in Stoddard County. The majority of these offenders have committed sex offenses involving children.

"We have already had our annual check of offenders in the county," stated Andy Holden, Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, "We have our deputies go to their residence one time per year and do a physical check to make sure they are living at that address and are still registered."

The Missouri Highway Patrol maintains an online link to an interactive map that can be viewed by the public identifying where Registered Sex Offenders reside and why they are required to register.

Holden also explained that the states number of registered sex offenders could be a little different because they are counting offenders who are incarcerated, have moved but not registered at another agency or people who live in another county but work in Stoddard County.