Prominent Pittsburgh Attorney Accused Of Teen Sex Solicitation

PITTSBURGH, PA — A prominent Pittsburgh attorney was arrested in Jefferson County over the weekend after allegedly attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with someone he thought was a teenage girl.

Paul Luvara, 33, of Bridgeville, was arrested in a McDonald's parking lot in Punxsutawney Saturday after a sting operation set up by a group called the 814 Pred Hunters. The organization describes itself as a nonprofit dedicated to exposing online child predators to the community.

The group had gone to police saying they had been speaking with Luvara, who believed he was arranging a meeting with a 15-year-old girl. Luvara allegedly had been exchanging messages with a decoy posing as the girl since mid-October.

Luvara is charged with four felony counts of criminal attempt involving statutory sexual assault, indecent sexual intercourse of a person less than 16 years of age, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors. He also faces one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility and one misdemeanor count of indecent assault.

After posting bail, Luvara was released on Monday from the Jefferson County Prison.

Luvara's law practice is based in Carnegie.