This story is developing.
Brandon Novak has reportedly withdrew from the 2024 PBA U.S. Open from Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis, IN after less than 2 games in the fourth round of today's action. While rumors circulated in the BowlTV chat room, it is being corroborated by multiple sources that Novak was arrested by multiple U.S. Marshall's and taken into custody. It is unclear right now as to the rationale behind the arrest.
A reader sent what appears to be his arrest sheet, posted below. The below links are also available under public records for two prior arrests for violating an order of protection in September, 2022 and again in December, 2022. The links were obtained from 11thframe.com.
https://franklinoh.mugshots.zone/novak-brandon-l-mugshot-09-23-2022/
https://ohio.arrests.org/Arrests/Brandon_Novak_54377891/
Novak also pleaded guilty to violating an order of protection from a 2019 case, according to Chillicothe Munical Court records, while 2 counts of tele harassment and a count of menacing stalking were dismissed. He was fined $250 plus $478 in costs.
If there is an order of protection against Novak limiting his travel, this could've been something as simple as a parole violation for crossing state borders (being as he made public posts on Facebook about his tournament results). However, it is also unclear whether the Feds would've gotten involved for something as miniscule as that.
Additional documentation (below) was sent to me by another reader showing that Novak's record has been updated and that it was reported in February of 2023 that a case is currently under investigation by prosecutors for pandering and what appears to be the intent to buy, procure and possess obscene materials involving a juvenile.
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Charles Sanso, deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio and a member of the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), said that Novak had an active arrest warrant out of Ross County, Ohio.
Cindy Schumaker, assistant prosecuting attorney for Ross County, said Monday that Novak is charged under a secret indictment, and that any information about what he is charged with will not be released until he is extradited to Chillicothe. The prosecutor's office could not say when that will happen. The Marion County, Indiana sheriff's website listed Novak as a current inmate as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The site says he was committed to the jail on Feb. 1 and is being held on a detainer for Ross County.
Novak ended up finishing in 36th place and earning $1,500 for the tournament.
Update (2/7/2024): A report by the Chillicothe (Ohio) Police Department obtained by 11thFrame.com details Brandon Novak allegedly admitting to buying and possessing child porn found on his phone. According to the 11thframe.com, investigator Lukas Lindamood presented the case to a session of the Ross County Grand Jury for a “true bill indictment” of Novak for “15 counts related to child pornography.”
The case referral documents six files with one being a picture of Novak on his Facebook account. The other five are videos which appear to show young males engaged in anal sex with an adult male. Only one of the videos shows the face of the suspected juvenile, which appears consistent as being a juvenile, but others have visual evidence that it is an apparent juvenile involved, Lindamood wrote.
A full account detailing up-to-the-minute details, including information directly from the Chillicothe Police Department, can be found at this link on the 11thFrame.com website.
