Photo courtesy of San Bernardino Sheriff’s Dept.
Keith Dewayne Lavinge arrested in San Bernardino

Staff Reports

SAN BERNARDINO-  A convicted sex offender who had five children living in his home in San Bernardino has been arrested.

Keith Lavinge has been convicted twice for the sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, and he is required to register his home address with authorities.  Investigators found that Lavinge has been registering as a “transient” in the City of San Bernardino, and has not been honest with law enforcement about his residency.
Sheriff’s detectives were contacted by social workers from the Department of Children and Family Services, who are mandated reporters. During the course of the social worker’s investigation, it was determined that the children’s biological mother & biological father are incarcerated, and all 5 children were living with the mother’s boyfriend, Keith Lavinge.
On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, members from the Sheriff’s Specialized Enforcement Division assisted detectives in serving a search warrant at Lavinge’s residence in the 200 block of East 2nd Street in San Bernardino.  Lavinge was contacted at that location, along with the five children. Evidence was located at the residence to prove that Lavinge had been living at the location with the children for over a year. Lavinge was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender. He was transported and booked into the West Valley Detention Center, where he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
All five children were placed into protective custody. Further investigation is being conducted into the welfare of the children during the time they were living with Lavinge.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Detective Donald Patton or Sergeant Dana Foster in the Specialized Investigations-Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 387-3615.  If you choose to remain anonymous, call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME or www.wetip.com