POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County deputies announced Tuesday that 14 people face charges as part of a Halloween initiative aimed at ensuring compliance for registered sex offenders and predators.
According to the sheriff’s office, 1,238 sex offenders and 147 sexual predators were registered in Polk County as of Tuesday.
Recommended Videos
[TRENDING: WATCH AGAIN: SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch from Florida | Merritt Island homecoming king gives crown, sash to classmate | Become a News 6 Insider]
Deputies said in a release that they performed nearly 1,000 compliance checks throughout October to make sure these people are properly complying with state registration laws for sexual offenders and predators.
As part of the initiative, deputies said 14 sex offenders and predators face charges of violating these laws.
While 13 of these people were arrested, an arrest warrant was issued for Michael Akers, 43, whom deputies said failed to properly notify his change of address to authorities.
“Parents and community members are concerned about predators and offenders being around children, especially during events and holidays like Halloween,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “That is why every year, we conduct initiatives like this one to show sex offenders and predators that we take every one of the requirements seriously, and failure to comply will result in arrest.”
State requirements mandate that compliance checks be completed at least once per year. Of the 990 checks conducted in Polk County in October, 951 people were found to be in compliance, deputies said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: