Parents, encouraged to check sex offender location service

Officials with the Doa Ana County Sheriff’s Department are urging parents and caregivers to learn more about where registered sex offenders live before taking children trick-or-treating this Halloween.

There are currently 298 registered sex offenders in Doa Ana County. State statute requires convicted offenders to register with the sheriff’s department within 10 days of either being convicted or moving to the area.

“We do the best we can to verify these offenders live where they say they live,” said Deputy Brock Harvell, who coordinates required sex offender registration in Doa Ana County.

Sex offenders in New Mexico are discouraged from passing out candy on Halloween, but are not prohibited from doing so, according to Deputy Harvell.

Offender Watch, a free, online mapping service:. http://www.goDASO.org