ANTELOPE VALLEY – Dozens of parole agents fanned out across the Antelope Valley Wednesday night as part of “Operation Boo,” a safety initiative aimed at protecting young trick-or-treaters from sexual predators on Halloween.
“This is a night where children are out and about, they’re knocking on doors, they’re introduced to strangers, they’re easy prey for somebody that’s looking to hurt them,” said Jackie Waltman, Administrator for CDCR’s Antelope Valley Parole Office. “That’s why it’s so important that we don’t allow them [sex offenders] to have anything that would lure a child to their house.”
Waltman said local sex-offender parolees, who were convicted of child-related offenses, had to sign forms acknowledging that they were aware of special Halloween restrictions, including:
- A 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew during which parolees must remain indoors;
- No exterior lights on at their homes (to discourage children from approaching);
- No offering of Halloween candy and no Halloween decorations;
- Sex-offender parolees can open the door only to respond to law enforcement during curfew hours.
Starting at 5 p.m., Wednesday, six teams of agents hit 55 addresses across the Antelope Valley to ensure that sex-offenders were complying with the special Halloween conditions of parole.
Team 3 made seven stops in Lancaster to various addresses, including a motel, a junk yard, a trailer park, apartments and homes.
The first stop was the Bon Air Motel on Sierra Highway to check on three registered sex offenders. The men were escorted from their rooms, handcuffed behind their backs, and made to face the wall as officers searched their belongings for toys, pictures, decorations or any other items that might lure children.
“We’re not doing the big time search, we just don’t have enough time,” said supervising parole agent Bryan Frazier. “We’re just trying to make sure there are no kids here and no Halloween going on.”
On the second stop, to a junkyard on Division Street, officers used flashlights to search dozens of junk cars.
“I know you don’t have any control over what’s in these cars, but we’ve got to check them,” Agent Miriam Brown told the sex-offender.
The man, who was bunking in the junkyard’s sales office, said he had just two months left of parole on his conviction involving a 14-year-old girl.
The search turned up a teddy bear, which the man said was left behind by a customer.
“If it was stashed in his personal property, like his bag or his clothes, then we would probably take him in, but it looks like it’s just a customer discard,” Frazier said. “There’s no Halloween going on here.”
Agents suspected something was going on at a later stop at an apartment complex on 18th Street East and Avenue J-4 in Lancaster.
The registered sex offender, who was convicted for prostitution of a minor, spoke about his case as agents searched his home.
“They didn’t understand the relationship between me and her, and they thought it was a solicitation or something like that,” the man said, adding that the girl was 17.
Agents shined a flashlight in the man’s eyes and questioned him about using drugs.
“Why are your eyes so red? I could barely see any white,” one agent said. “I could bet that you smoked some weed.”
The man denied smoking marijuana and was ordered to go into the Antelope Valley Parole Office Thursday for a drug test. Agents also searched the man’s car for drugs, but none were found.
Team 3’s searches ended on 25th Street East in Lancaster, where agents searched the two-story home of a man who said he was convicted for sexually abusing his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Officers obtained the man’s password, and combed through his laptop for child pornography. Nothing was found.
Around 9 p.m., all six teams concluded Operation Boo in the Antelope Valley. The operation netted three arrests, Waltman said.
Richard Stine, 38, was arrested for being under the influence of alcohol and for having children’s toys.
Stine’s past convictions include rape by force or fear and sexual battery, according to the Megan’s Law website.
Joseph Britt, 62, was arrested after agents found pornography and children’s toys at his Lancaster residence. Britt was released in 2011 after serving time for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 or 15, according to the Megan’s Law website.
Russell Pence, 43, was also arrested Wednesday night after agents reportedly found sex toys at his residence. Pence, who was previously convicted for annoying or molesting a child under 18, was not listed on the Megan’s Law website. (However, Pence’s photo is listed on a private sex offender website. View it here)
Operation Boo in the Antelope Valley was conducted by parole agents from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Parole Region III: Division of Adult Parole Operations, with assistance from the prison’s Crisis Emergency Response Team and K-9 Units.
UPDATED: Operation Boo nets 85 arrests statewide
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) parole agents contacted 1703 sex-offender parolees during compliance checks as part of the 19th annual Operation Boo Child Safety Project on Halloween night 2012.
According to statewide statistics released Thursday:
- 85 were arrested,
- New charges were filed against five of the sex-offender parolees contacted,
- Five parolees at large were arrested,
- Two parolees were found with child pornography,
- Seven weapons were confiscated, and
- 17 parolees were found with narcotics.
On a regional basis:
- Region 1 (which includes Northern and Central Inland counties and extends south to Kern County) conducted 218 searches and arrested 16 sex-offender parolees, including one parolee-at-large.
- Region 2 (which includes the Central Coast and the Bay Area counties) conducted 252 searches and arrested 16 sex-offender parolees, including three parolees-at-large.
- Region 3 (which includes the greater Los Angeles area) conducted 358 searches and arrested 16 parolees, including one parolee-at-large.
- Region 4 (which includes San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego and Imperial Counties,) conducted 875 searches and arrested 37.
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Frank Rizzo says
These scumbags should just be excecuted. The community is at risk with these turds on the loose and we get to pay for the police to check up on them. I hope they get put in general population!
Frank Rizzo says
I guess all the child molesters dont like my coment. Bleeding hearts!
Unkown says
This is such BULL[removed]! Don’t get me wrong I think every child molester should DIE! But they arrested my husband for something that happened 14 years ago with someone almost of his own age! That didn’t want to get into trouble with get parents!!! They said he had children’s toys! Which is a LIE!!!! There full of [removed]! They always go after people that that ARE NOT DOING anything! and LEAVE the [removed] WEIRDOS alone that ARE [removed] UP!Then when u see that on the news,everybody is like OMG!!!! why didn’t u do anything ??? Because THEY are LAZY and the PAROLE DEPARTMENT don’t give a [removed] and REALLY DON’T WANNA DO there JOB to investigate the REAL MOFO’s that are SICK in the HEAD! and when you see the news they’ll say? Uhhh we were looking into it!
the BASTARD has been out of prison for ever ! But no one really check On that person! DO UR [removed] JOB!
TheTruth says
So let us all get this straight: all the OTHER sex offenders need to be checked, and punished, except YOUR husband, who did something very minor,so minor it wasn’t really anything, in fact it was barely illegal at all, and those meanie cops actually put a case on him he didn’t deserve. And why don’t those meanie parole agents pick on OTHER parolees and leave your poor husband alone……right? Get a clue, [removed]
really says
Were you married 14 years ago? Is it possible that your husband isnt being completely honest? Maybe he told you a story to explain why he is a 290 registrant
Frank Rizzo says
So this person married a chomo and is still married to a child molester, what wrong with her? Anyone who condones child molestation is just as guilty as the ofender.
Sandrita says
I certainly appreciate the parole agents for cleaning up the streets of scum/thugs that molest and screw young innocent children. They shouldn’t be allowed to exist.
Letlow says
Check out the rims on the car. From following the story, I’m guessing the car belonged to the sex-offender who pimped out the 17 yr old? I guess pimpin’ pays… Who knew?
Hector says
Yes, but as the professional wrestler “The Godfather” used to say, “Pimpin’ ain’t easy”.
Shame on you! says
You are low for blasting these men pictures out to make them a target for they neighborhood after they already serve they time. You even hunt for the one man picture who is not required to be on Megans list. What kind of satisfaction could you get for putting a target on these men backs?
Uncle Tom says
You are incorrect.
This sweep was targeting Parolees. By receiving parole, these people are allowed to serve out the remainder of their ‘sentence’ outside of a penal institution. So they have not finished ‘doing their time’. There are very specific rules they must follow while on parole, and there are certain rights that are given up as conditions of parole.
I am glad they posted the pictures of these convicts. This way the community is aware of known criminals who continue to break the law and rules of their probation. I am also glad AV Times posted a link to another website that I was unaware of where additional criminals can be found, who for whatever reason are not mandated to be posted on the Megan’s Law website.
As far as satisfaction, how about the satisfaction of knowing you are informing the community of events that may matter to them. You do realize this is a news website right?
Uncle Tom says
Correction: rules of their probation -> rules of their parole. Probation and parole are similar but different. Just wanted to that up.
Gladys says
Since the guys have monitors, why not just check the GPS to see where they are and spend the time looking for the sexual preditors walking around freely..like the (example) teachers and coaches that have recently been arrested finally. Or the old man who drives around trying to pickup young girls at neighborhood stores and gas stations. Just a thought.
If a guy is off parole and no longer wearing a monitor, does that mean he is “safe” now?
Uncle Tom says
The intention of these checks (on Halloween or any other day) is to inspect the living environment and SEE the offender in person. Who is to say they did not take the GPS off? Maybe they have somebody tied up right now, and you catch them? Maybe they have been courting more victims online or are planning to, or collecting child porn. All these things need to be checked in person, which is a term/condition of their parole.
In this country everybody is innocent until proven guilty, so all those people who have been arrested and charged still get their day in court. That doesn’t mean the judge might not put some restrictions on them (stay away from victim/family/location, etc), but they are typically not subject to the same limitations and reduced rights that parolees are.
As for catching random people driving around looking for the next victim, LASD can not be everywhere at all times. They are out patrolling 24/7/365, and they do keep their eyes out for suspicious activity. But the real eyes and ears are the public. If YOU see somebody doing something, call it in. Give specific details, licence plate nums, suspect description, location, times, activity. Don’t just expect the problem to go away by wishing or praying, DO SOMETHING.
And of course because a person (stop saying guys, cause females can be criminals too) is off probation/parole or out of lockup or not wearing a monitor, does not mean they are ‘cured’ and safe. That’s why we have Megans Law, to help educate the public on just this particular negative segment of society. Keep the public aware, educate them, and make sure they know these people are around.
Again, don’t expect your local law enforcement to be able to stop all crime. Its not possible. Compare the criminal history of our area now to 2006 to 2008 and you will see a BIG drop. Why? Because the public got tired of $hit, got together, got educated, and stop ignoring the problem. Participate, join or start up neighborhood watch groups, get to know your neighbors, report suspicious activity. If LASD notices a pattern of reported crime in an area, they WILL focus attention, but if nobody reports it, or they ignore it, then LASD doesn’t know about it, and nothing will change.
sikntired says
Too bad, their victims will never recover .You play, you pay.No sympathy for these life wreckers.
Valerie says
Hot debate why u always in somebody elses mix whats up wit 11st. The whole blokk looks like a ghost town….lol
diana says
These arrests are insane simply vindictive,searching a man’s house whose conviction was over 20 years ago!!!! And not even on megans law
confused says
Lets bust out the old calculator…
– 1703 compliance checks during Operation Boo 2012
– the picture above shows 6 law enforcement officer present during one check
Assumptions (please chime in if you have facts):
– 2 hours to travel to location and conduct search and possible arrest / wrap up
– hourly pay rate is what – $40 – on average, incl. bennies?
1703 x 6 x 2 x $40 = $817,440
… more like Operation Ka-Ching!
Uncle Tom says
What the confusing part? That 1703 checks netted 85 arrests statewide? That parole officers were conducting parole checks? That we pay these parole officers a salary to do the job of managing parolees? Operation Boo has been going on for many many years, so I would be that work schedules are adjusted and no overtime was needed to conduct this operation. So, wheres the confusion?
Uncle Tom says
Well shoot, it looks like people are upset that we have to PAY law enforcement to do their job. Perhaps we should just expect everybody to follow the rules and we can get rid of all the money we flush down the toilet on enforcing laws and keeping the public safe. My guess is these are the same people who complain when there are DUI checkpoints?!? I mean, it costs how much to run a checkpoint?? Oh..wait, last time I looked a huge chunk of the personnel manning them are VOP’s and Reserves…so there’s practically no cost when its comes to their salary. When it comes to these operations, its not about arrests, its about enforcement, and its about keeping people honest and law abiding.
They publicize these operations so that criminals think twice about doing something stupid. Obviously these criminals who were arrested are brain dead enough to ignore the law, which is all the more reason to get them off the streets. Maybe some more time behind bars will convince them to get their act together.
Stinger says
As most bloggers here will tell you, I am one of the first people to question the necessity of certain law enforcement operations in light of their cost effectiveness and efficacy of results.
HOWEVER…
The nature of the crime of sexual molestation is heinous enough that, even with such a low statistical rate of recidivism on the part of those who commit such types of crimes, the expense is worth it to maintain compliance with parole conditions and protect the truly innocent (i.e.: children) from those who would cause such harm to them.
Adam Chant says
I think most people would agree with your observation Stinger.
Knowing that there are deputies and Parole Agents out doing searches keeps these people on their toes and decreases the chance that they will even consider offending again. No reason to argue the statistics of recidivism over this matter because the prevention is worth the cost in my mind.
confused says
@Stinger – I totally agree with you that there is a need for parolees to be monitored and that they are subject to a significant reduction in their rights while on parole. Otherwise they could elect to serve out their time in prison. That that kind of supervision is not free goes without saying. It is beneficial, as it is still a lot cheaper than keeping someone in prison as well as gradually prepares the parolee for re-entry into society.
HOWEVER…
I view this whole Operation Boo as a cheap (or not so cheap) publicity stunt. Does it really take 6 officers in bullet proof vests to check up on one person? Sure, you never know what greets you on the other side of the door, but such is the life of a parole officer every single work day.
Are parolees with a history of good old-fashioned violence involving weapons treated with this show of force? Parole visits any other day of the year? When was the last time a sex offender parolee resorted to violence during a check?
And why on Halloween? Are there going to be children trick-or-treating at the sales office at the junkyard? There is no, zero, evidence that child sexual abuse increases on Halloween, by registrants or otherwise.
I know, I know, it makes us ‘feel’ safer, and if it saves just one child… personally, I would feel, and probably be, safer if the Police cracked down on drunk or reckless drivers who pose a significant increased risk to children on Halloween. Or use the funds for other things, silly things like sex abuse education and prevention, or just the schools in general.
But will that generate a front page headline? Doubt it.
Bring on the thumbs down! But do think about it…
CaptainObvious says
Stop the presses again! That’s twice this year I’ve agreed with Stinger! OK…the second paragraph anyway, not the first. @Confused: These sex offenders are visited at least once a year by sheriff’s deputies, checking to make sure they actually live where they say they do. That’s usually done by 1 or 2 deputies. These idiots visited the other night are still on parole, as you mentioned. Parolees can be on their best behavior when they don’t think they’re going to jail, and even sometimes when they ARE going to jail. However, may times, once they find they have to pee in a cup right now, and they know they’ve used drugs, their behavior can, and many times does change, when they know they are going to jail. What difference does it make if there were 6 agents in bulletproof vests? It’s not supposed to be a fair fight, if there is one, the bad guy is supposed to LOSE! Let’s don’t forget, this particular crime they are on parole for may be a sex crime. You can be guaranteed most of these idiots have committed many crimes, even some violent ones. Besides, its safer and quicker to do these operations in teams. If it did cost $817,000 as you say (I’m sure it didn’t, these guys were already working…you know…doing their jobs!), how much is it worth to prevent these deviants from re-offending on a target rich night like Halloween? Uncle Tom, you’re right on the money!
Friendly says
You said Operation Ka-Ching!!!! You are so right. I wish I could “thumbs up” more than once. How do these guys “thumbs up” so many times when they don’t like what YOU say?