Sex offenders in Missouri no longer required to post 'no candy' signs on Halloween

A Missouri judge got rid of the law mandating sex offenders to have 'no candy' signs outside their homes on Halloween after deeming it unconstitutional. 

In 2008, Missouri enacted a law stating sex offenders have to stay indoors away from children on October 31, keep their outside lights turned off and post a sign to deter children from the property while trick or treating. 

Any offender who violated the law's criteria was subject to be charged with a class A misdemeanor, as stated in the Missouri Revisor of Statutes.

But US District Judge John Ross decided on Wednesday that sex offenders do not have to put up those signs starting this Halloween, according to Fox 2. He said that judges across the state were against enforcing the sign requirement. 

The other measures are still in place.  

This decision comes after a registered sex offender from Hazelwood, Thomas Sanderson, filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Andrew Bailey stating that his First Amendment rights were being violated.

Sanderson, a Tier II offender who was added to the list in 2006, was arrested in 2022 for violating the law. Police said he had a big Halloween display and was handing out candy to children. 

In the 2023 lawsuit, he alleged that he and his family have held Halloween festivities every year for the past 22 years, according to First Alert 4. 

The lawsuit also stated the 'no candy' sign made Sanderson make a statement that he did not agree with.

Bailey filed a motion to respond to Sanderson's lawsuit, stating 'the First Amendment does not grant sex offenders a right to give candy to children on Halloween.'

Sanderson claimed that he was told twice by authorities that this law did not apply to him because his conviction was before the law was enacted. 

In response to 'no candy' signs no longer being required, people have expressed their shock and confusion online.

One passionate X user wrote: 'Wow that is some b*******. F*** that judge!'

'It's crazy when adults make rules like this, and all other normal adults don't grab these certain adults and throw them in a dungeon somewhere. Instead, we let them stay in power,' another chimed in.