Allegheny County prosecutors drop sex charges against former Regent Square restaurateur

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday withdrew charges against a former Regent Square restaurant owner accused of breaking into a woman’s home on Pittsburgh’s South Side and sexually assaulting her.

On the paperwork submitted in the case against Adnan Pehlivan, Assistant District Attorney Emma Schoedel wrote that the sole purpose of withdrawing the charges is “what is in the best interest of the sexual assault victim(s) in this matter,” and said the victim consented to the charges being withdrawn.”

Common Pleas Judge Anthony M. Mariani signed the form Wednesday.

In a statement, the alleged victim said her “confidence in the justice system has been shaken tremendously.”

“For nearly four years, my life and the lives of my two close friends have been centered around pursuing justice in this case. (Wednesday) a difficult but necessary decision was made to withdraw charges, despite our unwavering belief that justice has not been served,” she wrote.

“By choosing to forgo a third trial, we are choosing to reclaim our lives as our own,” she added. “We’ve fought our hardest for justice, and now it’s time to fight for healing. We are hopeful that our experience can guide change that will foster a more supportive environment for victims in the future.”

The Tribune-Review does not identify victims or alleged victims of sexual assault.

Pehlivan, who had been on electronic home monitoring, was to be released Wednesday, said defense attorney Lee Rothman.

“We’re very grateful that we do not have to challenge the evidence for a third time before a jury,” Rothman said. “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.”

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Pehlivan, 50, was charged in connection with a May 15, 2018, incident.

The accuser, who was 24 at the time, said she met Pehlivan at Kopy’s bar on the South Side that night when she was there with her friends, police said. She told police that Pehlivan tried to ingratiate himself with the women, buying them shots and showing them magic tricks.

After the women left, investigators said Pehlivan followed them home in his car as they walked down Carson Street. Schoedel said Pehlivan broke into the woman’s bedroom, and she woke up to find him sexually assaulting her.

The prosecution presented evidence that Pehlivan’s fingerprints were found on a window on the other side of the house from where Pehlivan claimed he entered.

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

Pehlivan twice went to trial on the charges, and twice a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on counts including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, sexual assault and indecent assault.

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

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

Mike Manko, a spokesman for the DA’s office, said in any case involving sexual assault, “the welfare of the victim is paramount.

“That being said, District Attorney (Stephen A.) Zappala (Jr.) believes there are serious legislative issues that need to be addressed including the language of the stalking statute, which puts the focus on the victim more than the perpetrator,” Manko said.

In addition, Manko said the rape shield law, which is often abused by defendants, needs to be strengthened by the legislature and more vigorously enforced by the judiciary.