Police expand search for escaped parolee

Belleville police, parole officers and U.S. marshals continued on Tuesday their search for a man who was on parole for breaking into women’s homes and fondling them as they sleep.

Police began their search on Monday after an employee at a Belleville medical office reported she spotted Larry Alverson masturbating. Police then found that Alverson cut off the ankle monitor used by his parole officer to track his whereabouts. There was no sign of Alverson, said Belleville Police Det. Sgt. Mark Heffernan.

“The U.S. marshals and parole officers have joined the search,” Heffernan said Tuesday.

Last year, Alverson was convicted of criminal trespass to a residence and sentenced to two years in prison. Alverson was originally charged with unlawful restraint and residential burglary. But an order of protection stated that Alverson came to the home in the 500 block of South 22nd St. in Belleville to fix a faucet. The resident’s 16-year-old daughter told her mother that Alverson tried to rape her.

In 2003, Alverson was convicted of breaking into a Belleville home. Police said Alverson fondled a sleeping 14-year-old girl, then put his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream, then began choking her when she wouldn’t quiet. Alverson pleaded guilty to the charge of home invasion at the girl’s home in the 3000 block of North Fifth Street in Belleville.

Heffernan said he still believes Alverson is in the area.

“We do not think he has the means to leave,” Heffernan said.

Alverson has never been charged with a sex crime. He is not required to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors charged Alverson on Monday with the felonies of escape and criminal damage to property for cutting the ankle monitor. He was also charged with public indecency. His bail is set at $250,000.

Alverson, 40, is 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He has a tatoo on his left upper arm that says “D/Zone.” Both of his ears are pierced. His left nostril is also pierced.

“He is a dangerous man,” Heffernan said.

Anyone with information on Alverson’s whereabouts are asked to call Belleville Police at 911 or 618-234-1212.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Police expand search for escaped parolee."