Big Kids Caught Trick-or-Treating in Virginia Town Could Face a Misdemeanor

A ploy for candy on Halloween might cost your kid their clean criminal record in one bummer of a city.

Kids older than 12 years old caught trick-or-treating in Chesapeake, Va. could be slapped with a misdemeanor as a way to curb “mischief” on the spooky holiday.

And as harsh as the punishment may seem, the city just voted to reduce the penalty — prior to them loosening the rules this year, costumed kids older than 14 caught begging for candy could have faced a possible fine or even a prison sentence.

The ban on big kids has been a long and contentious battle for the city. Last year, reports of the strict law caused a big media stir, which prompted local officials to revisit the rule some called outdated.

“The idea that we would put teenagers that age in jail was just a horrible thought, obviously, and it angered a lot of people,” Mayor Rick West told 13NewsNow, a local ABC affiliate.

In its new form, anyone over the age of 12 caught trick-or-treating alone or without an adult supervisor after 8 p.m. could be charged up to $250 and slapped with a Class 4 misdemeanor, according to 13NewsNow.

“Realistically the only purpose of this ordinance is to give our police force the ability, if someone is creating mischief on Halloween, to do something about it,” says Chesapeake spokesperson Heath Covey.

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