A Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney accused of attempting to solicit a minor for sexual activity in Jefferson County in 2023 has been sentenced to up to seven years in jail.
According to court documents, Paul Anthony Luvara, 34, of Bridgeville, Pa., was sentenced on May 8 to at least 2 1/2 years and up to 7 years in prison, followed by a maximum of three years of probation.
Lurvara pleaded guilty to two felony charges during a hearing before President Judge John H. Foradora on November 6, 2024.
- Criminal Attempt — Corruption Of Minors — Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
- Criminal Use of Communication Facility, Felony 3
The prosecution dropped the charges listed below as part of the plea agreement:
- Criminal Attempt — Statutory Sexual Assault: 11 Years Older, Felony 1
- Criminal Attempt — Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Person Less Than 16 Yrs Age, Felony 1
- Criminal Attempt — Aggravated Indecent Assault — Complainant Less Than 16, Felony 2
- Criminal Attempt — Indecent Assault — Complainant Less Than 16, Misdemeanor 2
Lurvara’s probation restrictions include abstaining from drinking, adhering to special sexual offender conditions, completing an approved treatment program for sex offenders, and not frequenting illegal or disreputable areas or associating with disreputable people.
Details of the case:
According to court documents, the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against Luvara in the office of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock on Monday, December 4, 2023.
According to the criminal complaint, on December 2, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., Master Patrolman Winfield of the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department was contacted by a member of 814 Pred Hunters, a Clearfield County-based organization that targets online predators attempting to solicit or engage in sexual activity with minor children. The company creates phony accounts on several online social media platforms, including Facebook, posing as young ladies.
The organization stated that they had made contact with a person from Bridgeville who was purportedly identified as Paul Anthony Luvara.
Luvara allegedly identified himself as a Pittsburgh-based criminal defense attorney. Officer Winfield found Luvara’s law practice in Carnegie by searching his name.
According to the criminal complaint, Luvara reportedly exchanged sexually explicit texts with what he thought was a 15-year-old minor female. It was also said that Luvara desired to meet with the child to have sexual intercourse with her.
Officer Winfield received information on Luvara’s alleged communications with the decoy. According to the complaint, the messages revealed a disturbing pattern of manipulation and sexual exploitation, with Luvara repeatedly attempting to arrange a meeting for sexual activity, even expressing a preference for underage partners due to the illegal nature of such encounters.
Luvara allegedly indicated during the conversation that he “may or may not have” engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl, according to the complaint.
Later in the talk, the decoy voiced anxiety about becoming pregnant if she slept with Luvara. Luvara allegedly responded by claiming he would get her “Plan B” (birth control), according to the lawsuit.
According to the criminal complaint, he reportedly allegedly informed the decoy, “Being under 16 just makes it really hot and exciting because of the risk factor.”
The accusation alleges that he later showed an interest in having sexual contact with the decoy and her 13-year-old companion Ava.
On December 2, 2023, Luvara allegedly texted a photo of his GPS to the decoy, confirming his arrival at a fast-food restaurant in Punxsutawney. The organizer of 814 Pred Hunters forwarded this information to Officer Winfield, who, along with Chief Conrad, discovered a white Mercedes, purportedly registered to Luvara, in the restaurant’s parking lot, according to the complaint.
According to the criminal complaint, Officer Winfield ran the vehicle’s license plate and discovered that it belonged to Paul Anthony Luvara. Additionally, Officer Winfield discovered that Luvara’s registration had lapsed.
Officer Winfield entered the parking lot and activated his red and blue emergency lights before approaching the vehicle. He then approached the driver’s side, at which point the car went into reverse. According to the criminal complaint, Officer Winfield called for the driver to open the door and show him his hands.
According to the criminal complaint, Officer Winfield opened the door and reportedly asked Luvara to exit the vehicle. Luvara allegedly refused to cooperate, repeatedly reaching down to his right side beneath his seat. Officer Winfield continued to order Luvara out of the truck and requested to see his hands, but Luvara allegedly refused to cooperate.
According to the criminal complaint, Officer Winfield repeatedly screamed at Luvara to stop groping beneath the seat. Luvara allegedly kept reaching. Officer Winfield allegedly grabbed Luvara and dragged him out of the car before lowering him to the ground. As Officer Winfield did this, a fully loaded firearm allegedly dropped to the ground beside Luvara.
Luvara was then arrested and transferred to a police station.
On Saturday, December 2, 2023, Luvara was arraigned before Judge Mizerock at 7:38 a.m.
He was first held in Jefferson County Jail but was released on December 4, 2023, after posting a $50,000.00 bond with a licensed bondsman.
