Boyceville man charged with 10 felonies related to sexual assault of teenaged boys

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE  —  A 45-year-old Boyceville man is now facing ten felony charges related to the sexual assault of teenaged boys.

Christopher J. Novotney appeared in Dunn County Circuit Court before Judge Rod Smeltzer March 1.

Novotney appeared before Judge James Peterson February 25 for a bail hearing.

Judge Peterson set bail at $50,000 cash, but at the time of the bail hearing, a criminal complaint had not yet been filed.

Novotney is now facing two felony counts of second degree sexual assault of a child; two felony counts of repeated sexual assault of a child (at least three violations of first or second degree sexual assault); three felony counts of exposing genitals to a child; and three felony counts of exposing a child to harmful material.

Dunn County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Maki said at the March 1 court hearing there were seven alleged victims, although the criminal complain mentions six alleged victims along with several witnesses.

According to the complaint, Novotney told investigators that his wife had told him that he was inappropriately touching people but that it was not true.

As the interview with investigators continued, Novotney began to talk about incidents that had happened at his home on county Highway K in the Town of Stanton when he allegedly had sexual contact with a number of teenaged boys.

Novotney told investigators that the alleged victims would watch “soft core” pornography and “R” rated movies at his home and would sometimes drink alcohol that he had provided while they were watching movies, according to the complaint.

Investigators asked Novotney if he knew the ages of the alleged victims that he had named, and Novotney told investigators they were all 16 or 17 and not old enough to drink alcohol.

Novotney said he would be drinking when the teenagers were present, and they would ask if they could drink, too, and he would allow them to have alcohol, according to the complaint.

Novotney told investigators he had started to have sexual contact with some of the teenagers about two years earlier.

One of the potential witnesses told investigators that he had witnessed “the molesting of a bunch of kids while at Christopher’s house,” according to the complaint.

The potential witness “did not disclose that he had ever been touched by the defendant at any time,” the complaint states.

One of the alleged victims told investigators that another potential witness had been sleeping across the couch from him and that Novotney had come over to the couch and began to “snuggle” with the alleged victim, who said he felt uncomfortable so he got up and went to the bathroom and then went to sleep in a bedroom.

The alleged victim said he woke up at around 5 a.m. with Novotney lying behind him in the bed and that Novotney had has hand down the alleged victim’s pants.

Donna Burger, a public defender attorney, appeared at the March 1 court hearing with Novotney and asked that Judge Smeltzer reduce the $50,000 cash bail.

Novotney has no criminal record, has no other charges pending, has lived in the Boyceville area for more than 30 years, and has family and community ties, Burger said.

Burger went on to say that she understood the charges were serious and that the community has a concern about the charges but that non-monetary conditions can be put on bail to ensure the safety of the public.

Judge Smeltzer could, for example, confine Novotney to house arrest and set a curfew, she said.

Novotney owns his home and has a full-time job, Burger said.

Maki said he was opposed to a reduction in bail, and because of the seriousness of the charges, Novotney could have an incentive to flee the area.

Judge Smeltzer said he had reviewed the complaint, and considering the seriousness of the allegations, believed $50,000 was a reasonable cash bond.

The bond is appropriate to protect the youth in the Boyceville area, Judge Smeltzer said.

Burger went on to say that while she was appearing with Novotney at the March 1 court hearing, Novotney does not qualify for representation by a public defender.

Judge Smeltzer suggested Novotney call his wife to see to about making financial arrangements for hiring an attorney to represent him.

Novotney told the court that his wife did not want to talk to him.

The defendant owns a home and has the means to hire an attorney, Judge Smeltzer said.

Novotney is scheduled for an initial appearance in Dunn County Circuit Court on March 7 at 11:30 a.m. before Judge Peterson.

The defendant is charged with four Class C felonies. Each Class C felony carries a potential penalty, if convicted, of a fine of up to $100,000 and/or 40 years in prison.

Novotney is charged with six Class I felonies. Each Class I felony carries a potential penalty, if convicted, of a fine of up to $10,000 and/or three years and six months in prison.