Deputies conduct compliance check on area sex offenders

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- The La Porte County Sheriff's Office and multiple police agencies conducted a county wide compliance check of violent predators, sexually violent predators and offenders against children on Wednesday.

Operation Porch Light targeted the 87 people in the county who are on the registry as Halloween and trick or treating approaches.

Two of the offenders were found to be non-compliant, according to the sheriff's office.

One is a sex offender and the other is a sexually violent predator, reports said.

Joseph Stevenson, 41, was taken into custody on two level 5 felony failure to register violations.

“The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office does an excellent job of insuring [sic] that sex offenders reside where they have registered their home addresses, so it is crucial that our citizens visit our website to learn who the registered sex offenders are in our community and where they live, ” La Porte County Sheriff John Boyd said in a press release. “A unique feature to this OffenderWatch system is the ability to enter an address of a neighborhood that you plan on visiting, before heading out for trick-or-treating, and determining the addresses that you should avoid.  We urge the public to be proactive and utilize this free tool to help keep your children and family safer this Halloween season.”

During the compliance check, each offender was strongly encouraged not to participate in trick-or-treat.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, investigators from the La Porte and Michigan City Police Departments, Fugitive Apprehension Street Team, La Porte County Drug Task Force, Gary Parole District, Indiana State Police and United States Marshals Service participated in the operation.

Joseph Stevenson


Share this article: