Background Checks on Washington State Fair Workers After Reports of Sex Offenders

Following news that several sex offenders had been employed at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, fair officials are requiring background checks of all the people working at rides and games this year.

KOMO-TV reports fair officials are being extra vigilant this year because last year three employees had to be let go because they were registered sex offenders and lied on their applications.

This summer the Pacific County sheriff arrested a sex offender who managed to get hired on at that county fair. That's a different carnival company from Funtastic, the ride and games operator at the Washington State Fair which says it now background checks all employees.

Fair official Karen LaFlame says she hasn't heard of anyone being rejected.

Some state lawmakers have said they will introduce legislation next session requiring all ride operators to have background checks.