Hillsborough County deputies arrested 30 registered sex offenders for violations uncovered during a monthlong Halloween compliance sweep called Operation Scarecrow, officials announced. The operation checked offenders and predators across the county in the weeks leading up to Halloween, turning up missed registration deadlines, unreported vehicles and outdated driver's licenses.
According to the Tampa Free Press, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Sexual Predator Unit detectives checked 1,202 registered sex offenders in unincorporated areas of the county this month, with the sheriff's office teaming up with the Florida Department of Corrections and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to run probation checks in the final week before Halloween. Those checks verified that most offenders lived at their listed addresses and were following the terms of their supervision. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office separately confirmed on its own site that it arrested 30 registered sex offenders for violations in October as part of Operation Scarecrow, though a different account of the same sweep complicates the exact tally.
WFLA reported that Hillsborough County has 1,435 registered offenders in the sheriff's jurisdiction, and that detectives had been doing compliance checks for the last month. That station quoted the sheriff's office saying six of the 1,435 were found out of compliance, with three placed under arrest and three more facing warrants — a different set of numbers than the 30 arrests cited elsewhere from the same operation. Hoodline could not independently reconcile the two tallies, and both are presented here as reported.
Door-to-Door Visits and the Rules Offenders Must Follow
Sheriff Chad Chronister joined detectives going door to door this year, including stops at homes of offenders convicted of sexual battery on children younger than 12, according to the Tampa Free Press. Chronister said safeguarding children in the community is the highest priority, and he said offenders found in violation went back to jail. WFLA reported separately that Chronister went door-knocking to remind registered offenders and predators of Halloween-specific rules.
Florida's probation and supervision rules bar certain sex offenders from handing out candy during trick-or-treating hours, putting up Halloween decorations or leaving porch lights on while children are out trick-or-treating, per the Tampa Free Press. Florida Statutes §948.30 allows probation conditions that prohibit distributing candy or other items to children on Halloween, according to the Florida Senate. Separately, Florida Statutes §943.0435 requires sexual offenders to register changes to vehicles, home and cellular phone numbers, employment and internet identifiers, the Florida Senate notes.
A Plant City Case Involving a Covered-Up ID Card
Among those checked was 69-year-old Reginald Walker, whom law enforcement visited at a home on the 1,000 block of Johnson Pointe Drive in Plant City on October 26, according to the Tampa Free Press. Investigators found that Walker had covered the words “sexual predator” on his state identification card with a white covering, the outlet reported. Detectives also said they found an unreported email address, multiple unregistered social media accounts and two unregistered phone numbers associated with Walker.
Walker, described as a three-time convicted felon with past charges including sexual battery with a weapon or force and robbery, was arrested on probation violation charges for unlawful internet activity, per the Tampa Free Press. He was charged with two counts of failing to register a phone number, nine counts of failing to register internet identifiers, and with possessing an altered driver's license, the outlet reported.
Brandon Arrest Tied to an AI Chatbot App
In Brandon, detectives checked on 60-year-old Robert Williamson on the 1,400 block of York Street on October 27, according to the Tampa Free Press. Williamson, described as a five-time convicted felon whose record includes sexual battery on a victim under 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation, had two cellphones, the outlet reported. Deputies said they found an app on one of his devices used to conduct sexual chats with AI-generated female children.
Investigators verified that Williamson had no direct contact with victims and found no signs of unreported crimes involving him, according to the Tampa Free Press. He was booked for violating probation regarding prohibited software programs, the outlet reported.
How This Year Compares
Chronister said compliance among registered offenders was better this year than last year, according to WFLA. Last year, the sheriff's office issued nine arrest warrants, typically when an offender was not living at the registered address, the station reported. A prior operation involving the FDLE, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Corrections — called Operation Trick Bag — resulted in eight arrests of sexual predators and offenders, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Neighboring Polk County ran its own Halloween compliance initiative with the Florida Department of Corrections in the weeks leading up to and including October 31, 2025. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said 140 offenders and predators were checked, with 14 arrested for registration-law violations, two out-of-state warrants served, and 16 more arrested for probation violations. On Halloween itself, Polk detectives and probation officers confirmed compliance for 348 offenders and predators and conducted 297 searches, the sheriff's office said, noting Polk County has 1,431 registered sexual offenders, including 158 designated as sexual predators, who are checked quarterly.
