$50,000 bail set for Boyceville man accused of sexually assaulting teenagers

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE  —  A Dunn County judge has set bail at $50,000 cash for a 45-year-old Boyceville man arrested for sexually assaulting teenagers.

Christopher J. Novotney appeared in Dunn County Circuit Court for a bail hearing February 25 before Judge James Peterson.

Judge Peterson set bail at $50,000 cash and ordered Novotney not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Novotney was arrested February 23.

Assistant District Attorney Holly Wood-Webster requested that Judge Peterson set a high cash bail.

Novotney admitted to investigators that he had engaged in oral sex with a 15-year-old as well as other acts of sexual contact with teenagers ranging in age from 14 to 16, Wood-Webster told the judge.

The assistant district attorney said she was anticipating many more charges in the case, including exposing genitals to a child and repeated sexual assault.

Novotney told investigators he was not sure he would “be around today” if he did not speak with law enforcement, Wood-Webster said, adding that she was not sure what Novotney meant but that she feared he could pose a flight risk.

Wood-Webster said the district attorney’s office was still in process of gathering evidence and interviewing potential victims.

Judge Peterson said he had reviewed the arrest warrant and concluded that there had been probable cause for arrest.

An attorney who appeared with Novotney for the bail hearing requested the judge set a lower cash bail of $2,000.

Novotney has significant ties to the community, works locally, has been a Boyceville resident for several decades, has a wife and two children and owns his home, the attorney said.

In addition, Novotney is the primary financial support for the family, has no prior criminal record, and the family lives paycheck to paycheck, he said.

Second-degree sexual assault of a child is a Class C felony that carries a penalty upon conviction of a fine of up to $100,000 and/or 40 years in prison, Judge Peterson said, adding that the district attorney’s office is expecting to file multiple charges.

Judge Peterson agreed with Wood-Webster that he was not sure what Novotney meant by referring to  “not being around” but that he, too, was concerned about Novotney not making court appearances.

Judge Peterson granted the assistant district attorney’s request and set a cash bail of $50,000 along with ordering that Novotney not have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Novotney is scheduled for an initial appearance in Dunn County Circuit Court March 1.

Wood-Webster said the district attorney’s office had still been interviewing potential victims that morning, that she expected multiple victims, and that some of the victims had been sexually assaulted at the same time.

A criminal complaint is expected to be filed by the time Novotney is scheduled for initial appearance March 1 at 1:15 p.m.

Although the Novotney case is a Branch I case with Judge Peterson, because of scheduling conflicts, the initial appearance will be in the Branch II courtroom with Judge Rod Smeltzer.

Novotney does not currently qualify for a public defender, although the high cash bail may change Novotney’s eligibility for a public defender, said the attorney who appeared with Novotney.