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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office calls for changes after a man allegedly broke into a home and crawled into a young child’s bed. Omaha police said Lavern Scott was arrested near 14th and Leavenworth after allegedly breaking into two homes early Friday morning. Scott is a registered sex offender in the state. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said at the time of the arrest, Scott was not in compliance with the Sex Offender Registry Act, and they said this is far from the first time he’s been arrested for violations or alleged crimes. “He’s the classic definition of a repeat offender, of a predator,” Sheriff Aaron Hanson said. Court documents obtained by KETV Investigates show Lavern Scott has been previously convicted of sexual assault in 1987 and 1999. He was later placed on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry as a lifetime offender. Then, according to the court documents, he was convicted for violating registry requirements in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024. Lavern Scott was arrested a few times at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Hanson said Scott failed to check in with the sheriff’s office as recently as Feb. 2026. “Once we had an opportunity to see about his latest arrest and learn of his latest crime, we took that as an opportunity to add additional charges for his recent noncompliance,” Hanson said. According to Hanson, as of April 27, 2026, there were 1,681 registered sex offenders in the county, and roughly 233 of those offenders were considered non-compliant.The sheriff’s office has a dedicated investigator to handle those high-risk offenders who are non-compliant, but Hanson said it’s a huge caseload for one person. “Our investigator often spends anywhere from 8 to 20 hours researching each tip, because it requires going out on the streets to do that actual physical follow-up investigation,” Hanson said. Hanson believes the current state law needs to be updated to include enhanced supervision options, especially for those offenders most at risk of re-offending. “Whether that’s mandating that they have to wear an ankle monitor at sometimes, when they are showing a history of violating the act, or they’re falling into a high-risk category,” Hanson said. Hanson said supervision isn’t the only answer; the entire system needs to work together to handle cases like Scott’s better. “Lavern Scott, according to my research, had at least 20 times in which he was taken into involuntary custody,” Hanson said. “Aside from his criminal charges, for his behavioral health challenges, his substance abuse challenges. law enforcement and medical professionals articulation that he served a risk to himself or the public. That’s a problem. That’s a huge red flag.”Hanson said when looking at Scott’s record, several judges did try a variety of options, including prison time, probation and jail. Hanson said the mental health struggles that the county has seen are part of a complex issue and multiple agencies need to work together. In the meantime, the sheriff’s office said tips from the public are incredibly helpful. They said you can call their tip line at 402-444-6000 with any information or concerns. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office calls for changes after a man allegedly broke into a home and crawled into a young child’s bed.
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Omaha police said Lavern Scott was arrested near 14th and Leavenworth after allegedly breaking into two homes early Friday morning. Scott is a registered sex offender in the state. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said at the time of the arrest, Scott was not in compliance with the Sex Offender Registry Act, and they said this is far from the first time he’s been arrested for violations or alleged crimes.
“He’s the classic definition of a repeat offender, of a predator,” Sheriff Aaron Hanson said.
Court documents obtained by KETV Investigates show Lavern Scott has been previously convicted of sexual assault in 1987 and 1999. He was later placed on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry as a lifetime offender. Then, according to the court documents, he was convicted for violating registry requirements in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024.
Lavern Scott was arrested a few times at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.
Hanson said Scott failed to check in with the sheriff’s office as recently as Feb. 2026.
“Once we had an opportunity to see about his latest arrest and learn of his latest crime, we took that as an opportunity to add additional charges for his recent noncompliance,” Hanson said.
According to Hanson, as of April 27, 2026, there were 1,681 registered sex offenders in the county, and roughly 233 of those offenders were considered non-compliant.
The sheriff’s office has a dedicated investigator to handle those high-risk offenders who are non-compliant, but Hanson said it’s a huge caseload for one person.
“Our investigator often spends anywhere from 8 to 20 hours researching each tip, because it requires going out on the streets to do that actual physical follow-up investigation,” Hanson said.
Hanson believes the current state law needs to be updated to include enhanced supervision options, especially for those offenders most at risk of re-offending.
“Whether that’s mandating that they have to wear an ankle monitor at sometimes, when they are showing a history of violating the act, or they’re falling into a high-risk category,” Hanson said.
Hanson said supervision isn’t the only answer; the entire system needs to work together to handle cases like Scott’s better.
“Lavern Scott, according to my research, had at least 20 times in which he was taken into involuntary custody,” Hanson said. “Aside from his criminal charges, for his behavioral health challenges, his substance abuse challenges. law enforcement and medical professionals articulation that he served a risk to himself or the public. That’s a problem. That’s a huge red flag.”
Hanson said when looking at Scott’s record, several judges did try a variety of options, including prison time, probation and jail.
Hanson said the mental health struggles that the county has seen are part of a complex issue and multiple agencies need to work together.
In the meantime, the sheriff’s office said tips from the public are incredibly helpful. They said you can call their tip line at 402-444-6000 with any information or concerns.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
