Former Somerset County 911 coordinator charged with child sex offenses

UPDATE |

Somerset Co., PA (WJAC) — Former Somerset County 911 coordinator Brad Lavan has been charged with sexually abusing five children at his Somerset Borough home.

According to multiple probable-cause affidavits, borough police began investigating 30-year-old Lavan on Jan. 25 after reports of the abuse.

The abuse occurred, according to the affidavits, between January 2021 and January of this year when some of the children were at Lavan’s home for sleepovers or play dates with his children.

Some of the abuse also occurred in the presence of other children, according to the affidavits.

Police charged Lavan Friday in five individual cases.

“These are the most serious offenses that can be charged against an individual for sexually assaulting children," acting Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar said Friday during a press conference. “Children of this age are especially vulnerable and are learning to trust the individuals tasked with caring for them. Prosecuting these types of offenses and protecting our most precious but vulnerable members of society are of the utmost importance to my office.

“This investigation is far from complete and we intend to continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every victim receives justice.”

Somerset Borough Police Chief Randy Cox said there could be other reports against Lavan.

“We are certainly leaving open the possibility that there could be other reports coming in,” Cox said.

Lavan faces a total of 39 felony and misdemeanor offenses, including multiple counts rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, both first-degree felonies.

He was arraigned Friday before District Judge Ken Johnson, of Somerset, and was sent to the Somerset County Jail on $150,000 bond in each of the five cases.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 12 before Johnson.

Online court dockets did not list an attorney for Lavan Friday afternoon.

In April the Somerset County Commissioners unanimously voted to relieve Lavan of his position as 911 coordinator and deputy EMA director.

At the time, it was not publicly known why the commissioners acted on Lavan’s position.

He was hired as the 911 coordinator in 2019.

ORIGINAL STORY |

The former Somerset County 911 coordinator has been charged with several sex offenses.

According to online court dockets, Brad Lavan, 30, Somerset, was arraigned at 10 a.m. Friday on the charges, which include rape of a child.

According to the dockets, District Judge Kenneth Johnson, of Somerset, sent Lavan to the Somerset County Jail on $150,000 bail.

In April, the Somerset County Commissioners unanimously voted to relieve Lavan from his position with the county.

At the time, it was unclear why the commissioners chose the action for Lavan’s departure.

A press conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the Somerset Borough Police Department.

Stay with 6 News online and on air for more details on this developing story.

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