By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Supreme Court has sided with two sex offenders who challenged laws barring them from handing out Halloween candy and living near schools and child care centers.
The high court ruled 4-3 Tuesday that the restrictions may not be applied to people who committed their crimes before the laws were enacted.
The court combined two cases argued last year. In one, a sex offender was charged after a police officer saw a woman handing out candy from his house.
In the other, a sex offender was barred from moving in with his fianc e because the home was too close to a day care.