GastonCounty.info

Sex offenders who are on probation and live in Gaston County have been ordered to report to the courthouse on Halloween while hundreds of children go trick-or-treating. At 6 p.m., about 65 offenders are expected to file into the county commissioners’ room — the only one large enough to fit them. For the next three hours, they’ll watch an informational video, register any address changes and listen to authorities talk about new sex-offender laws.

Those who don’t show up will be arrested and charged with violating probation.

“You just don’t want to endanger any of our young children on this night,” Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger said.

By Dnica Coto · The Charlotte Observer.