Lavaca County Sheriff's Office

08/21/2026

Yesterday, the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), demonstrated the value of strong law enforcement partnerships and the resources they bring to our community.

Yesterday afternoon, members of the USMS (Southern District of Texas, Victoria Division) arrested Andrew Clinton King Jr. at a residence in the 300 block of Kroschel in Hallettsville. King was arrested on a felony warrant for Failure to Comply with S*x Offender Duties to Register. King had previously been indicted by a Lavaca County Grand Jury, resulting in the issuance of the warrant.

An LCSO deputy assigned as a Task Force Officer (TFO) to the USMS Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force participated in the arrest. The Hallettsville Police Department also assisted.

King’s apprehension was the second arrest yesterday involving a registered s*x offender from Lavaca County for failure to comply with s*x-offender registration requirements.

Earlier in the day, Travis Bingham was apprehended in Kingwood, Texas, by members of the USMS. Bingham has remained a wanted fugitive since failing to appear for a scheduled April 13, 2026, trial in Lavaca County on a charge of failing to comply with s*x offender duties to register. Members of the USMS and the Harris County Sheriff's Office SWAT team took Bingham into custody following a brief standoff. At least one other person was also arrested at the location.

These arrests demonstrate the importance of the partnerships the LCSO has developed with other agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. These partnerships, task forces, and other law-enforcement initiatives provide force multipliers that allow agencies to combine personnel, expertise, jurisdictional authority, and resources toward a common goal.

Our partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service is particularly valuable to Lavaca County. Having an LCSO deputy assigned to the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force allows our agency to participate directly in multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional efforts while bringing enhanced resources back to our community and the residents we serve.

The law places specific and serious requirements on individuals convicted of s*xually based offenses. When an offender under our jurisdiction fails to comply with those requirements, the LCSO will utilize every appropriate resource to locate those individuals and hold them accountable under the law.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

08/20/2026

Update on Lavaca County Fugitive -
Travis Bingham ARRESTED and IN CUSTODY

Thank you to all law enforcement, agencies, and/or persons involved with the successful and safe apprehension of Travis Bingham.

Update on Travis Bingham

Travis Bingham, a registered s*x offender, had a trial scheduled for April 13, 2026, on a charge of failing to register as a s*x offender. He did not appear for the trial.

Bingham remained at large until August 20, 2026. He was located at a residence in Kingwood, Texas, by the U.S. Marshals Service (Southern District of Texas). At least one other person was arrested with him at the location.

Members of the Gulf Coast U.S. Marshals Service and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team took Bingham into custody following a brief standoff.

08/20/2026

Expect to see an influx of people and officers around the area while, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz has a meet and greet at 1:30 at Cabo San Lucas Mexican Grill in town.

08/17/2026

** Found Property**

LCSO has located a silver case with camera equipment inside. If this is yours please call the Sheriff's office and discribe the contents inside to claim.

361-798-2121 opt. 1 for dispatch

08/14/2026

Update to Ongoing Investigation

On today's date a short while ago, arrest warrants were served on current LCSO inmates Thomas Presley Knight and Ryan Lee Knesek for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility, second and third degree felony respectively.

These charges are pursuant to the ongoing criminal investigation related to contraband that was discovered inside the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office Jail and has led to the previous arrests of Brandon Dearson, Tyler Miller and Keith Woods. This continuing investigation is being conducted by the DPS Texas Rangers and LCSO Investigators, along with the assistance of the Lavaca County Attorney's Office. We will continue to update the public of developments as those details can be released.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

08/11/2026

Please be advised there will be an increased presence of law enforcement in and aroud the area of the KC Hall.

This is due to the search for an individual that fled the scene of a traffic stop approx 3:45 pm in Hallettsville. The subject is described as a hispanic male approx 5'3" wearing a red, white and blue shirt with blue jeans and a basball cap.

If seen please contact 361-798-2121 option 1 for dispatch.

08/10/2026

NOTICE OF ESTRAY

The following estray animal(s) have been taken up and are being held in accordance with the Texas Agriculture Code:

Description of Animal(s):
Species: Bull steer calf
Breed: Brahma (per auction barn)
Color/Markings: Black
S*x: Male
Approximate Age: 8 months
Size: 500 lbs.
Brand/Ear Tag/Identification: N/A no brand or tags
Location Found: 1103 CR 16A, Hallettsville, TX

Please contact the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office for additional information regarding this estray notice at 361-798-2121.

08/10/2026

🚨🚨🚨Missing Children Safely Located🚨🚨🚨

On August 9, 2026, at approximately 5 p.m., the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding two missing children. The children’s father had been searching for them prior to requesting the aid of first responders.

Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to a ranch off U.S. Highway 77 South and immediately began assisting the father in searching for the children on a rural property spanning more than 160 acres.

As responding units continued their search, the two juveniles heard the sirens from the emergency vehicles arriving in the area and subsequently came out of the woods and were reunited with their father.

The Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Hallettsville Police Department, Yoakum Police Department, Lavaca County EMS, Hallettsville Fire Department, and everyone else who responded to the area and assisted with the search.

The successful outcome of this incident is a testament to the importance of first responders and agencies working together, especially when the safety of our children is at stake.

08/07/2026

The Lavaca County Sheriff's Office is proud to have participated alongside our local, regional, and state partners in this important school safety and mass casualty/reunification exercise.

The safety of our students, educators, and school communities remains one of our highest priorities. While we hope these skills are never needed, training together in realistic scenarios strengthens the relationships, communication, and coordinated response that are essential during a critical incident. Preparedness is built long before an emergency occurs.

We are grateful to Yoakum ISD and Yoakum Community Hospital for their integral role in organizing this exercise and to every agency, volunteer, and partner who dedicated their time and expertise to making it a success.

The Lavaca County Sheriff's Office remains committed to working hand-in-hand with our schools, hospitals, and public safety partners to ensure we are ready to respond swiftly, professionally, and effectively should the unthinkable ever occur. Together, through preparation, partnership, and training, we help keep our communities safe.

County lines may divide Yoakum, but our partnership and commitments to Yoakum PD, Yoakum Community Hospital, and the Yoakum ISD Admin, Faculty, Students, and Parents remain a constant priority.

08/06/2026

BE ADVISED OF THE TRAINING EXERCISE GOING ON THIS MORNING IN YOAKUM