Summarized by
Kent Larsen
Ex-LDS Social Services Counselor Charged With Sexually Abusing Child
Salt Lake Tribune 6Jan99
By Michael Vigh: Salt Lake Tribune
Mark D. Novak, 47, a former sex abuse counselor for LDS Social
Services, has been charged with sexually abusing a female child
for a year. The child was not a client. Novak worked for LDS
Social Services for 12 years before resigning last month when
the allegations became known.
Novak was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of
a child, which, according to prosecutors, happened between October
1994 and October 1995. He is currently free on $50,000 bond.
The abuse came to light when the victim, now 16, called a crisis
hot line at Benchmark Hospital in Woods Cross, Utah. The abuse
had stopped when the victim told her mother, but the mother didn't
call police.
Novak is to appear this month in 2nd District Court. If convicted,
he faces up to life in prision.
|