Former Somerset County 911 coordinator headed to court on child sex crime charges

May 2024 · 2 minute read

A former Somerset County 911 coordinator, who is accused of multiple child sex crimes, will answer for his charges in county court.

Acting Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar announced Wednesday that all 35 charges against 30-year-old Bradley Lavan have been bound over for court.

Lavan appeared Wednesday before District Judge Kenneth Johnson in Somerset for his preliminary hearing.

“Today I am so very proud of these families, and especially the victim children, for having the courage to stand up and bravely testify. Most adults couldn’t handle the stress of cross examination from an adversarial attorney, but these very young children were so brave and we all should be proud of them,” Metzgar wrote in a press release.

Lavan is accused of sexually abusing five children over a two-year period starting in 2021. The abuse allegedly occurred while the children were at Lavan’s Somerset Borough home for play dates and sleepovers.

“I’m pleased with today’s result and look forward to delivering justice for the victims at trial. I will not tolerate child predators in our midst. I am committed to continuing this fight to root out this scourge of behavior that has reached epidemic levels. All of Somerset County’s children deserve to grow up in an innocent environment free from any fear of sexual abuse,” Metzgar wrote.

Lavan is facing numerous sex offenses, including multiple felony counts of rape of a child.

He is being housed in the Somerset County Jail on multiple $150,000 bonds.

Online court dockets did not list Lavan’s next court date Wednesday afternoon.

Lavan served as the county’s 911 coordinator from 2019 to April, when he was relieved from the position by the Somerset County Commissioners.

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