Tolin Louis Brown, 60, of Gary, is now facing additional felony charges after authorities say he failed to properly register as a convicted sex offender in Lake County. Brown was arrested and charged earlier this week in connection with a theft at a CVS store in Crown Point.
According to court documents, on March 9, 2026, investigators reviewed records from the Lake County Police Department Bureau of Identifications and determined that Brown had failed to properly register as a convicted sexual offender. Records show Brown was previously convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree involving a person under 13 years old on September 25, 1995, in Wayne County, Michigan, and was ordered to register as a sex or violent offender in Indiana for life. Court records further show Brown was previously convicted in Lake County on July 9, 2024, for Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender.
Authorities stated Brown has registered or filed change of address forms with law enforcement at least seventy-seven times since his original conviction. On those occasions, Brown affirmed that he had truthfully provided registration information and acknowledged that he must notify law enforcement within seventy-two hours of any change of address.
On March 9, 2026, detectives conducted compliance checks on registered offenders and went to Brown’s last reported residence in the 700 block of Broadway in Gary, where they determined he did not live at that location. A property manager advised that it is against property rules for a convicted sex offender to reside there.
On March 17, 2026, investigators contacted the current resident of the unit, who stated she knew Brown but that he had never lived there. She further advised she did not know his whereabouts and believed he may be homeless.
Court documents state Brown last registered on January 23, 2026, when he updated his address from Lake County Community Corrections in Crown Point to the Broadway address in Gary. Once registered at that address, Brown was required to report every 90 days, with his next scheduled registration set for April 23, 2026.
Authorities checked the National Sex and Violent Offender Registry and found Brown still listed at the Broadway address, indicating he had not registered a new residence. Investigators also determined Brown failed to notify authorities of any address change within the required seventy-two-hour period.
Further investigation revealed Brown’s Indiana driver’s license still listed a prior address associated with Lake County Community Corrections. Under state law, offenders required to register must maintain a valid state identification with current address information, which authorities say Brown failed to do. As a result, his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Additional checks with the Indiana and Illinois Departments of Correction confirmed Brown was not incarcerated in either state. As of the date of the affidavit, authorities say Brown had not returned to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department to update his registration as required.
Brown remains lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed April 16,2026:
Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 5 Felony)
Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 5 Felony)
Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 5 Felony)
