HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Butler County man is charged with several felonies for unlawful contact with a child, including attempted rape.
Justin L. Pavetto, 37, was a teacher at the New Horizon School, a public special needs school, at the time of his arrest this past weekend. The allegations are unrelated to his employment.
Pavetto was recently arraigned on nine felony charges, including unlawful contact with a minor, criminal attempt (rape), criminal solicitation (rape), and other offenses. Bail is set at $500,000.
According to an investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pavetto contacted online an individual he believed was the father of an 11-year-old boy. During numerous conversations with the “father” — who was actually an undercover agent — Pavetto discussed assaulting the “child.”
At one point, Pavetto set a meeting place with the “father” and “child” — an area McDonald’s — and drove to that location.
Anyone with information about Pavetto they believe law enforcement should know is encouraged to contact Special Agent Steven Adametz at 800-385-1044.
“This is very disturbing criminal conduct by someone trusted to help young people — not abuse them,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I commend our agents and partners at the FBI for timely actions that removed this defendant from the school and community.”
The case will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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