Man arrested for allegedly molesting two children

A 27-year-old man has been charged with child molesting for allegedly molesting two children in the same family, both under the age of 14, according to court records.

On December 5, 2018, South Bend Police were dispatched to a residence to investigate reports two children, ages 12 and 13, had been molested by 27-year-old Kevin Byrd.

The victims were interviewed at the CASIE Center.

Victim 1 told investigators Byrd had touched him for months and it started after Byrd stopped touching victim 2, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Victim 1 said Byrd touched his 'private area' and kissed him, reports said.

Several family members who were interviewed reported seeing victim 1 and Byrd "cuddled up together" in the living room on multiple occasions, reports said.

Byrd allegedly purchased a cell phone for victim 1 so they could communicate, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Victim 1 said he didn't report what happened because Byrd was helping his mom with bills and was paying his cell phone, reports said.

Victim 2 told police she found victim 1's cell phone and saw texts, allegedly from Byrd, that asked if "it was ok if we date" and "Are you good with tongue kissing?" according to the probable cause affidavit.

When victim 2 found the cell phone, she gave it to her mother and her mother called police, reports said.

Victim 2 told police Byrd had been around the family for the last year and had been living with them for a couple of weeks.

She said she had seen Byrd and victim 1 kiss on two occasions and that Byrd had touched her genitals in the past, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The Special Victim's Unit obtained a warrant for Byrd's phone where he disclosed "I'm a creep who fell for a kid. And he's a boy," according to the probable cause affidavit.

Text messages were found between Byrd and Victim 1 asking which kinds of kissing would be all right.

Byrd told police he would occasionally sleep in the living room with victim 1 and that he had sent text messages asking victim 1 about dating and kissing, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Byrd has been charged with two counts of child molesting.

He is currently facing one count of child molestation in Lake County. The charges were filed in 2013.