Sexual assault charges against former Allegheny County restaurant owner dropped

PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office withdrew sexual assault charges against a former Regent Square restaurant owner on Wednesday.

Adnan Pehlivan was accused of breaking into a woman’s home in Pittsburgh’s South Side and sexually assaulting her.

According to Channel 11′s news exchange partners at TribLIVE, Assistant District Attorney Emma Schoedel wrote that the purpose of withdrawing the charges is “what is in the best interest of the sexual assault victim(s) in this matter,” and that the victim consented to the charges being withdrawn. A spokesman from the District Attorney’s office says they have no additional comment.

“We’re very grateful that we do not have to challenge the evidence for a third time before a jury,” said Lee Rothman, defense attorney. “We believe that justice has been served. We view this as a vindication of Mr. Pehlivan as the government was not able to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Pehlivan, who had been on electronic home monitoring, was to be released Wednesday, according to Rothman.

He was charged in connection with an incident that took place in May of 2018. The accuser said she met Pehlivan at Kopy’s bar on the South Side when she was there with friends. She told police that Pehlivan tried to charm her group of friends, and was buying them shots and showing them magic tricks.

After the women left, Pehlivan followed them home in his car, according to investigators.

Schoedel said that Pehlivan broke into the woman’s bedroom, and she woke up to find him sexually assaulting her.

Pehlivan testified that their encounter was consensual, and that the woman became upset during it and asked why he was in her house.

The prosecution presented evidence that Pehlivan’s fingerprints were found on a window, on the opposite side of where he claimed to enter.

He went to trial on the charges twice, and neither jury could reach a unanimous verdict on counts, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, sexual assault, and indecent assault.

During his first trial, Pehlivan was acquitted of stalking and simple assault, but the jury could not reach a verdict on the other charges, which were retried in October of 2019.

That jury deliberated for four days before telling the court it was hung and could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Churches send letter to AG Shapiro asking for investigation into man’s death in Bloomfield incident

©2022 Cox Media Group