Attica Man Guilty of Child Pornography Charge

Attica Man Guilty of Child Pornography Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Paul J. Havlen, Jr., 48 of Attica, N.Y., has pleaded guilty to attempting to receive child pornography, a federal crime that has shaken the close-knit community.

According to court documents, Havlen posted an ad on Craigslist seeking a young man who was interested in smoking marijuana and engaging in sexual activities. Between October 26, 2011 and December 19, 2011, Havlen engaged in graphic email and text exchanges with a person he believed to be a 15 year old boy.

The defendant asked the 15 year old for pictures and made arrangements to meet him at a park in Attica. However, the individual that Havlen was actually chatting with was an undercover police officer, and the defendant was arrested after he drove to the area of the park on December 19, 2011.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the government. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Brian P. Boetig, Special Agent in Charge and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Acting Sheriff Gregory J. Rudolph.

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. praised the efforts of the investigative team, saying, ‘This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting our children from predators like Havlen. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring these offenders to justice.’

Havlen’s sentencing is set for a later date, and he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

As the community of Attica reels from the news, residents are left wondering how such a heinous crime could have occurred in their own backyard.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of the Internet and the importance of protecting our children from predators who seek to exploit them.

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