Cass County officials announce sex offender protections for county fair

Cass County Prosecutor Noah Schafer and County Sheriff Ed Schroder announced a joint commitment to ensuring the safety of families attending the Cass County Fair, taking place next week, in light of a new Indiana law taking effect this year.

Under recently passed legislation, individuals classified as "serious sex offenders" — including sexually violent predators and those convicted of certain offenses against children — are now prohibited from entering facilities or events that are primarily directed toward children under the age of 18. A violation of this law constitutes unlawful entry by a serious sex offender, a criminal offense.

"This law gives us another tool to keep our kids safe at community events like the county fair," said Prosecutor Schafer. "We want every family who walks through those gates to feel confident their children are protected. If someone violates this law, we will prosecute to the fullest extent."

Sheriff Schroder echoed that commitment. "Our deputies will have an active presence throughout the fairgrounds for the entirety of the event. We'll be watching for any individual who is not permitted to be there under this new law, and we will take swift action, including arrest, if a violation occurs."

Both officials emphasized that the Cass County County Fair is a beloved community tradition, and their goal is to preserve that experience for local families.

"This is an excellent event for our community, and we intend to keep it that way," said Schafer. "Families should come out, enjoy the fair, and know that we're working together to keep it a safe environment."

Sheriff Schroder added, "We encourage anyone who sees something that concerns them to alert one of our deputies on site. We're here to help make sure this is a great week for everyone."