Sex offender held on suspicion of harassing kids at Halloween party

SAN DIEGO -- A convicted sex offender was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of harassing children and offering them candy at a Halloween party in northern San Diego County, authorities said.

Danny Shaw, 29, was arrested on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender as required by California law and on suspicion of being a sex offender harassing children.

Shaw was arrested at the Trick or Treat event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce in rural Ramona. The event had drawn upward of 1,000 children.

He admitted that he was a sex offender from Oregon and had failed to register when he moved to California, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, which said he listed an address in Yucca Valley.

As a costume, Shaw had white face-paint with red stripes simulating blood, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Shaw “had reportedly approached parents who were walking with their kids and persistently insisted on giving the kids candy, which was declined,” said San Diego Sheriff’s Sgt. Brent Strahm.

One parent watched as Shaw “slid candy into the bag carried by one of the children,” Strahm said.

An off-duty deputy was attending the event and called the Ramona station after noticing Shaw, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Shaw was booked into county jail in downtown San Diego.

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tony.perry@latimes.com