Ohio bowling pro facing 15 child pornography charges after arrest at tournament
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) -- An array of charges tied to sexual abuse material have stacked up against a professional bowler from Chillicothe who was arrested at an Indianapolis tournament.
Brandon Novak, 35, faces 15 felony counts, including five for pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and 10 for illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance. Documents filed in Ross County Common Pleas Court did not elaborate on how investigators tied Novak to the charges, or the evidence they had against him, but did say he solicited, received, bought or possessed child sexual abuse material.
The bowler's arrest at the beginning of February during the 2024 U.S. Open Bowling Tournament in Indianapolis was originally a mystery. A deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio told the Associated Press that the agency took him into custody on a warrant from Ross County. Assistant County Prosecutor Cindy Schumaker said the warrant was from a "secret indictment" which wasn't unsealed until Friday.
Novak, who participated in professional bowling leagues for more than a decade, has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 21 at 1:30 p.m. He did not have any attorney listed in court records as of Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.