(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Dave Sunday announced that a Butler County man is facing multiple felony charges involving alleged unlawful contact with a child, including attempted rape.

According to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Justin L. Pavetto, 37, of Cranberry Township, was employed as a teacher at New Horizon School at the time of his arrest over the weekend. Officials said the allegations are unrelated to his employment.

Authorities said Pavetto was arraigned on nine felony charges, including unlawful contact with a minor, attempted rape, criminal solicitation to commit rape, and related offenses. Bail was set at $500,000.

According to investigators with the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pavetto allegedly communicated online with someone he believed was the father of an 11-year-old boy. Investigators said the “father” was actually an undercover agent.

Officials alleged that during multiple conversations, Pavetto discussed sexually assaulting the child and later arranged a meeting with the purported father and child at a McDonald’s along Route 19 in Cranberry Township.

Authorities said Pavetto drove to the meeting location, where he was taken into custody.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked 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,” Sunday said in a statement. He also commended investigators and the FBI for their work on the case.

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section.

Criminal charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.