Former Burrell High swim coach admits to sex with teen
A former Burrell High School assistant swim coach will serve at least five years in prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female student.
Raymond Novak, 33, told Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec he wanted to end his trial on charges that during the 2008-09 school year he had the improper relationship with a sophomore on the swim team.
When asked why he was entering the plea, Novak said, "on the advice of my counsel" and because "it's in my best interest."
His plea was made at the start of the sixth day in the jury trial as the defense was prepared to present evidence. Novak was expected to testify yesterday.
Instead, he pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated indecent assault, statutory rape, indecent assault and using a cellphone for sexual communications. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of escape for fleeing the state on the eve of his trial in September.
Defense attorney Duke George said that by entering the plea, Novak was not conceding that he committed the crime.
"A lot of people plead guilty when they get excellent sentences," George said.
Blahovec said he will sentence Novak to five to 10 years in prison, terms agreed to by the prosecution and the defense. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Dupikla said she would not oppose Novak's attempt for parole after he serves the five-year minimum term.
The prosecution originally sought a mandatory sentence of 15 to 30 years if Novak were convicted of all charges but lowered that offer on the eve of trial, the same deal accepted yesterday.
"We just wanted to resolve it and provide closure to the (victim's) family. This has been a huge relief it is done," Dupilka said.
Novak will be formally sentenced in about three months after an assessment is completed to determine whether he will be classified as a sexually violent predator under Megan's Law.
Novak's accuser, now a 19-year-old college student, testified last week that she loved Novak and engaged in sexual activity with him at her home and on the deck of the Burrell High School pool.
Prosecutors introduced transcripts of more than 100 text messages, some with explicit sexual content, between Novak and his accuser, as well as records of more than 6,000 messages between the pair over a four-month period.
George said during his opening statement that jurors would hear Novak's testimony that no sexual contact with his accuser occurred. Novak contended that the teenager fabricated the sex tales as jealousy because he was in a relationship with a woman, according to George.
Novak was free on bail when his case was first called for trial last fall. He went on the run and was captured weeks later in Louisiana.
