Restaurant owner requests bond again in sex assault case

A Regent Square restaurant owner, jailed on charges that he broke into a woman’s home and sexually assaulted her, once again has asked to be released pending trial, over strong objection by the prosecution.

The attorney for Adnan Hilton Pehlivan, 47, made a third request for bail on Tuesday, telling Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Jeffrey A. Manning that his client has strong ties to the community, is involved in charitable work and is not a flight risk.

He submitted a photograph of Mr. Pehlivan with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto taken at a fundraiser to bolster his argument, but both leaders later forcefully objected to the use of the photo and disassociated themselves from Mr. Pehlivan.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer DiGiovanni objected to Mr. Pehlivan’s release, arguing that the defense presented no new evidence to warrant reconsideration.

Judge Manning said he would issue a decision Wednesday.

Mr. Pehlivan, who has no criminal record, is charged with sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, stalking and related crimes stemming from an incident early May 15.

According to Ms. DiGiovanni, surveillance video shows Mr. Pehlivan was at a South Side bar May 14 with a group of women and then followed them to their home on Josephine Street in

South Side Slopes. Police say he broke into their apartment and sexually assaulted one of the women as she slept.

During a hearing May 24, Judge Manning called what he saw on the video a “brazen act of stalking.” He then revoked Mr. Pehlivan’s $20,000 bond and ordered him to the county jail.

On Tuesday, Mr. Pehlivan’s new attorney, Lee Rothman, argued that his client, who appeared from jail via a video monitor, remains an innocent man.

He said his client is the sole proprietor of his restaurant, Istanbul Sofra, is responsible for the employees and taxes and ordering, and is the father of a teenage girl.

He also said, “My client is a civic-minded person.”

Mr. Rothman said Mr. Pehlivan, who moved to the United States from Turkey, works with Global Pittsburgh on immigration issues and submitted the photo taken with Mr. Peduto and Mr. Fitzgerald. Both objected when they learned about the photo used at the bond hearing.

“I was absolutely astonished to hear that Adnan Pehlivan and his attorney submitted a photo taken with me at one of a dozen of events that I attend each week as ‘ evidence’ to support his request for bond. I find his actions today and use of this photo to be appalling,” Mr. Fitzgerald said in a written statement.

“Let me be clear. I do not know this individual. I do not support his petition. I support the District Attorney’s office position that this man is a flightrisk and a danger to society. And I fully intend to conveythe same to the court.”

Mr. Peduto echoed that sentiment.

“Any assertion by Pehlivan and his lawyer attempting to tie me to a change in his bond is despicable. People take photos with me hundreds of times of week, and I certainly do not in any way have anything to do with this spurious attempt to change his bond,” Mr. Peduto said in a statement. “I support the District Attorney’s position that he remain in jail, and if neededwill put my objections to these false claims in writing for the court to formally review.”

Mr. Rothman also told the court that his client has forfeited his passport and is not a flight risk.

Further, he argued that the alleged victim of the crime was highly intoxicated, having consumed several shots and beers at the bar the night shemet Mr. Pehlivan.

“The evidence from the video doesn’t show my client entering this woman’s home surreptitiously,” Mr. Rothman said.

Ms. DiGiovanni countered that statement by saying there was evidence that Mr. Pehlivan attempted to force entry into the woman’s home through one window, and then did force entry through another.

She also said that it was ironic Mr. Rothman talked about the alleged victim being intoxicated, when, she said, it was Mr. Pehlivan who bought thewoman her drinks.