An Atlantic City man with a long criminal history including sexual assault convictions as a teen was ordered held after failing to register under Megan's Law.
Lavar Burke, 44, was arrested in Atlantic City on Sept. 10, for criminal mischief and heroin possession, court records show.
He was issued a summons for those allegations, but was arrested on the active warrant for failing to properly register as a sex offender dating to 2021. He was indicted on two counts last year.
Burke also is on probation for an aggravated assault, according to information released at his detention hearing Tuesday.
Burke has been a Megan's Law offender since he was a minor.
His cases date to the early 1990s, including aggravated sexual assault convictions in 1992 and 1993, and an attempted aggravated sexual assault in 1994, according to records.
Burke is listed at the highest risk level on the three-tier scale of Megan's Law.
He committed sex offenses involving five victims on four separate occasions, according to his page on the public registration, which lists his last address is the same address as the Turning Point Day Center.
The victims included "children who were forcibly taken to an isolated location," it reads.
His aliases include Kareem Davis, Bilal Jihad and Muhammad Keshawn.
Burke's adult criminal history includes 15 indictable convictions for crimes including aggravated assault, shoplifting, possession of a firearm by a certain person, false reporting, hindering, unlawful taking of a vehicle and failure to register.
His defense attorney argued for his release, saying that Burke's mother is in intensive care on life support.
Burke has two jobs, including working as a houseman at the Hard Rock Atlantic City and the Cycles of Life bike shop on the Boardwalk, his attorney said.
Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin said looking at Burke's history, "it's apparent the defendant does not and cannot comply with court orders."
Burke, who appeared via video from the jail, started speaking at this point, but his mic was muted.
When the hearing was completed, he refused to leave the booth.
