Attica Man Charged with Coercion and Enticement

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Paul J. Havlen, Jr., 46, of Attica, N.Y., was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with coercion and enticement. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a $250,000 fine or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, Havlen sent e-mails and text messages to a person he believed to be a 15-year-old boy. The complaint further alleges that Havlen arranged to meet the boy at Attica Memorial Park, for the purposes of smoking marijuana and engaging in sexual activity. In reality, Havlen was actually exchanging e-mails and text messages with law enforcement officers. The defendant was arrested when he arrived at the park to meet the boy.

Havlen appeared before Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott for an initial appearance this afternoon. He pleaded not guilty and is being detained pending a preliminary hearing on December 28, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

The Criminal Complaint is the result of an investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Farris Heimann and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.