Allegheny County defense attorney caught in sex sting has law license suspended

An Allegheny County criminal defense attorney caught in a sex sting in 2023 had his license to practice law temporarily suspended on Wednesday.

Paul Luvara, 34 of South Fayette, is a registered sex offender who is currently in state prison.

Luvara voluntarily sought the suspension in a joint filing with the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Police said Luvara attempted to solicit sexual activity from a minor after exchanging sexually explicit messages with someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint said Luvara had been communicating with a decoy from 814 Pred Hunters, a Clearfield County group that describes itself as a nonprofit that “monitors the internet for adults trying to meet up with children for sexual purposes.”

The group creates fake identities on social media sites and poses as underage girls, the complaint said.

Police in Punxsutawney said the group’s organizer reported in December 2023 that Luvara had been in contact with one of their decoys from mid-October to early that month.

After communicating with the 814 Pred Hunter member, Luvara drove from his home to a McDonald’s in Punxsutawney to meet, the complaint said.

Police were waiting and arrested him on Dec. 2, 2023. They charged Luvara with criminal use of a communication facility, corruption of minors, and related sexual assault charges, according to the complaint.

In November 2024, Luvara pleaded guilty in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court to one count each of corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility, both felonies.

He was sentenced in May to serve 2½-7 years in prison, followed by up to three years of probation.

In July, Luvara and David Lame, disciplinary counsel for the disciplinary board, filed the petition seeking a temporary license suspension.

The petition said a suspension it would be in the “best interest of the public, the bar, and the court.”

Luvara’s case is pending final discipline, according to the disciplinary board.