Oct. 31--Law enforcement officers checked the homes of dozens of L.A. County sex offenders on Friday in a predawn Halloween compliance sweep that led to the arrest of several people, including one offender found living at a day-care center, authorities said.
In Santa Clarita, a 22-year-old convicted sex offender was living with his mother, who ran a day-care center out of her home, said Carol Lin, a spokeswoman for the L.A. County Probation Department.
A 9-year-old girl and infant boy also lived at the home, located in the 24000 block of Copper Hill Drive, Lin said. The children's mother, a tenant in the house, told officers she had no idea the man living at the home was a sex offender, Lin said.
The probation department identified the man as Leonardo Rosales, and said he was arrested for violating his probation.
Three more people were arrested during a sweep in Pomona, where probation officers found convicted sex offender Christopher McQueen, 31, living at a house with a 10-year-old girl, Lin said. The girl was found sleeping in bed with another man, who Lin said was wanted on two outstanding warrants and arrested.
McQueen was convicted in 2012 for committing lewd acts upon a child, according to Pomona police. He was arrested Friday for a probation violation, Lin said.
The girl's mother was also at the home, which is located on Orange Grove Avenue, and was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment, Lin said. Authorities identified her as Teresa Barragan. Her daughter was taken into protective custody.
Lin said officers also discovered a meth pipe and marijuana at the home.
The sweep, dubbed Operation Safe Halloween, targeted 66 of the county's "highest-risk child predators" to ensure they were following court orders before the holiday, according to a Probation Department statement.
Law enforcement officers also checked to make sure the convicted offenders had no candy or costumes that could be used to entice children, Lin said.
