CRYSTAL CITY, Texas – A man was arrested on a sex offender registration charge after Zavala County Sheriff’s Office deputies carried out compliance checks across the county ahead of Halloween, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies checked on registered sex offenders throughout Zavala County, including Crystal City, on Monday, Oct. 26, as part of what the sheriff’s office called “Operation Trick or Track.” The sheriff’s office said the effort was done to prepare for the annual trick-or-treating events in Crystal City, La Pryor and Batesville and focused on registration compliance and awareness of the restrictions that apply during Halloween.

Arrest on a registration charge

During one of the checks, Jason Avila admitted he had not reported an online identifier as required by law, according to the sheriff’s office.

Avila was taken into custody on Tuesday, Oct. 27, for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, a third-degree felony.

The sheriff’s office noted that a charge is only an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Why online identifiers matter

Under Texas law, people who are required to register as sex offenders must report their online identifiers, such as email addresses and social media usernames, to the law enforcement agency where they are registered. Failing to meet registration requirements can lead to a felony charge.

Families planning to go trick-or-treating can search the Texas Department of Public Safety public sex offender registry at publicsite.dps.texas.gov/SexOffenderRegistry to see registered offenders near their route.

Read our earlier coverage: Crystal City Man Arrested After Deputy Allegedly Discovers Methamphetamine During Traffic Stop