Division of Adult Parole Operations, Law Enforcement Operations

Operation Boo 2015: Parole agents treat kids to safer streets

November 12, 2015

During Operation Boo 2015, a Sacramento home looked like any other house on Halloween night. Candlelight shined bright orange from inside the jack-o-lantern placed near the front door while the porch lights were on. Meanwhile, a bowl full of candy was at the ready just inside the door.

This home, the decorations, porch light and even the bowl of candy were out of compliance with parole conditions.

They were forbidden because it’s the home of a known sex-offender parolee. Just day earlier, the parolee was warned not to do anything that might lure children to their home.

Within minutes of the parole agent’s arrival, the sex-offender parolee was in handcuffs and on his way to jail. The parolee was arrested by agents from the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) and their law enforcement partners during Operation Boo 2015.

Special Halloween restrictions for sex offender parolees

In addition to regular conditions of parole, all sex offender parolees must abide by special conditions for Halloween night. These include:

A 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew during which parolees must remain indoors.
All exterior lights of their homes must be turned off so it looks like no one is home. This discourages children from approaching.
No offering of Halloween candy and no Halloween decorations are allowed.
During the curfew, sex offender parolees can only open the door to respond to law enforcement.

In all, DAPO agents conducted 1,255 compliance checks or searches as part of the 23rd annual Operation Boo child safety project.

“Our thanks go out to the hundreds of parole agents and local law enforcement personnel,” said Bobby Haase, acting Director of the Division of Adult Parole Operations. “Many of them volunteer their time to help ensure that California’s children can enjoy a safer trick-or-treat experience free from sexual predators.”

Most in compliance but 56 arrested

Checking a GPS monitor for Operation Boo 2015.

Parole agents knock on a door Halloween night in 2015 during compliance checks.

Most of the sex-offenders contacted statewide were in full compliance. There were, however, 56 sex-offender parolees arrested and taken to nearby jails for violations of their special conditions of parole.

Statewide, new charges were filed against four of the sex-offender parolees contacted. Pornography was confiscated from 16 parolees checked on Halloween night.

Five parolees were caught with weapons. Seven parolees were found with narcotics such as the North Sacramento sex-offender who was caught with marijuana and alcohol.

The parole agents and their local law enforcement partners were accompanied by dozens of news reporters and camera crews who provided media coverage of the operation in every major media market in California.

“Our agents and their partners are keeping kids safe and getting recognized for their year-round efforts. The amount of positive coverage that DAPO agents receive during Operation Boo is amazing and well-deserved,” said Jessica Mazlum, DAPO’s External Affairs Liaison.

Parole tackles statewide Operation Boo 2015

Parole agents are briefed during Operation Boo 2015.

This year, CDCR’s coordination of Operation Boo in the Northern Region was led by Assistant Regional Administrator Albert Lee who is thankful for the wide-ranging support in his region.

“This was a group effort,” Lee said. “DAPO staff is very committed. They gave up time with their families on Halloween night to help ensure their neighbors’ children would be safe. Easily more than 100 parole agents and support staff were vital to making this year’s operation a success.”

Lee also thanked Regional Director Robert Ambroselli and Chief Deputy Regional Administrators Dwayne Cooks and Ken Dow for encouraging full participation.

In the Southern Region, the operation was led by John Bent and Karen Thacker. They echoed gratitude.

“(We) are thanking every single agent and member of the support staff for their united effort,” they said. “And their enthusiasm for keeping kids safe from predators.”

They also expressed appreciation for the backing from Southern Regional Director Guillermo Viera-Rosa, and the rest of his deputies and support staff.

By Luis Patino, CDCR Public Information Officer II
Photos by Eric Owens, CDCR Staff Photographer
Office of Public and Employee Communications

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