Police arrest 16 sex offenders

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said 16 convicted sex offenders were arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, ranging from identification violation to parole violations, following a mandatory meeting for registered offenders on Halloween night. “Operation Halloween” is an annual meeting designed to take sex offenders off the street to create a safer environment for children who are trick-or-treating. Police said 347 offenders attended the meeting. Six offenders who did not attend the meeting will be tracked down and possibly arrested, police said.