Man to be tried on lewdness charges

A Carson City man will be tried on charges he fondled a young girl, a judge determined Friday.

Justice of the Peace Robey Willis said there was enough evidence for Donald Novak, 54, to be tried on three counts of felony lewdness with a minor.

According to testimony given by the now-13-year-old victim, Novak on two occasions in November 2003 rubbed her leg from her knee to her thigh, and he allegedly rubbed lotion on her back and touched her buttocks. At least one of those alleged incidents was witnessed by the victim's mother.

The woman said she was sitting next to Novak on the floor, each of them with their backs to a couch, while the girl was sitting on the couch as the three watched a movie on the night of Nov. 22, 2003. The mother said she felt movement behind her head and turned to look when she allegedly saw Novak "quickly" pull his hand away from the girl's lap.

"I saw his hand up by my daughter's groin area," she said Friday during testimony.

The woman said the following day when she was alone with her daughter, she asked if Novak had ever touched her, but her daughter said no. A short time later, the mother said, her daughter was sobbing when she allegedly admitted Novak had touched her.

Defense Attorney Jason Woodbury asked the mother why she didn't call police immediately when she allegedly saw Novak touching her daughter and why did she wait to ask her daughter.

"I was nervous, scared," she said shrugging. "I didn't want a confrontation."

Novak allegedly admitted to police he had touched the girl "inappropriately," Deputy Cody Dellabitta testified.

"He admitted to touching her butt and admitted to placing his hands on her breast," Dellabitta said. "He said she is a very affectionate child with him."

No court date has been set.

Novak, a calibration technician, is free on bail.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.