A narcotics detective with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office was arrested Friday by State Police investigators who say he’d been communicating with minors online and requesting sexually explicit images from juveniles.
Gavin Lyvers, 34, of Ponchatoula, was booked with five counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor, five counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and two counts of possession of child sex abuse materials, according to State Police.
Lyvers, a 14-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was fired after his arrest, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, spokesperson for the department.
The case was investigated by the Louisiana State Police Special Victims division and Homeland Security Investigations. Agents with HSI received a cyber-tip about child pornography that had been uploaded on a social media account, according to State Police.
Investigators determined the account belonged to Lyvers. Federal agents reached out to State Police, and they determined that Lyvers was using the social media platform to “communicate with minors and solicit child sex abuse materials in exchange for items of monetary value,” State Police said.
Authorities obtained a warrant for Lyvers’ arrest and notified the Sheriff’s Office, State Police said. He was taken into custody and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish jail.
Lyvers is the fourth JPSO deputy arrested this year. On Monday, Kenner police booked former sergeant Ronald Bodenheimer with operating vehicle while impaired after authorities say he was found driving his marked patrol vehicle while under the influence.
Former deputy Kyle Nugent was booked Aug. 31 with DWI, battery of a dating partner and hit-and-run driving after he was accused of drunkenly hitting a parked car with his patrol unit and then choking his girlfriend.
Aaron Verrette was arrested Sept. 21 and booked with DWI after other deputies found him intoxicated and asleep behind the wheel of a personal vehicle on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie.
Source: www.nola.com
