One sex offender arrested in Halloween sweep

<p>Police and deputies conducted a sweep on Monday night to make certain that no sex offenders in Alachua County were improperly handing out candy or performing other prohibited activities.</p><p>According to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the sweep was conducted by deputies and police officers in Gainesville, Alachua, High Springs and Waldo in addition to the unincorporated areas of the county. In a news release, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Todd Kelly said, “All of the registered offenders were found to be in compliance with prohibitions regarding the distribution of candy to children during Halloween.”</p><p>One sex offender was arrested on Monday night for failing to re-register as required in October.</p><p>Jason P. Bratcher, 38, was found at the address he previously had registered as his home, 9417 SW 99th Place. Deputies said Bratcher complained that they woke him up when they reached his home at about 10 p.m. and referred to the deputies as being “rude and disrespectful.”</p><p>Once deputies made contact with Bratcher, they reminded him that he had not re-registered his status as a sex offender during October, and he was arrested.</p><p>This is the second time this year that Bratcher has failed to re-register, according to the Sheriff's Office. He also failed to contact officials in April.</p><p>Bratcher was designated a sex offender after being convicted of committing a lewd and lascivious offense on a child under the age of 16 in Alachua County.</p>