A Halloween compliance operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) led to the arrest of 32 registered sexual offenders and predators in October 2025 for violating registration requirements and probation conditions.
The sweep aimed to ensure that convicted sexual offenders and predators followed Florida’s registration laws and adhered to probation rules, especially those restricting Halloween-related activities. Polk County currently has 1,431 registered sexual offenders and 158 sexual predators, all routinely monitored by PCSO.
In the weeks leading up to and on Halloween night, authorities conducted 140 compliance checks. Fourteen individuals were arrested for failing to meet registration requirements, with two additional warrants served out-of-state. Violations included not reporting changes in residence, employment, vehicles, or active social media accounts. Another 16 offenders and predators were arrested for probation violations such as possessing pornography, failing drug tests, having unregistered internet identifiers, and not following officers’ instructions.
A total of 348 offenders and predators were confirmed compliant on Halloween night after 297 searches. Probation conditions often prohibit these individuals from contacting children, handing out candy, or displaying Halloween decorations.
“I am proud of our deputies and probation officers for their hard work to ensure that these sex offenders and predators are complying with their court-mandated registrations and requirements. This is time-consuming, but absolutely necessary,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “Our simple message is this — if you’ve been placed on the sex offender/predator registry, we will keep track of you, and we will hold you accountable for any violations, period.”
Among those arrested for failing to comply were three sexual predators—Terrell Denson, Mario Smith, and Travis Thompson—who were charged with not updating employment, license, or residence information. Other arrests involved individuals who failed to report multiple social media accounts, vehicles, or provided false residential information.
The Sheriff’s Office added that several probation violation cases remain under investigation, with additional charges expected.
Leave a Reply