By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Stuart Novick briefly raises his head to talk to deputy
public defender Ronette Kawakami during a bail hearing
yesterday on sexual molestation charges. Novick kept
his head lowered during most of the proceedings.
The hearing was continued to Sept. 21.

Sex-assault
suspect wanted
to flee, ex-wife says

A bail hearing is continued
in the case of a man accused of
making sexual videotapes
of a number of girls

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

A man accused of making sexual videotapes of young girls on the pretext he was filming them for commercials thought about leaving before being arrested, his ex-wife said.

Julita Lim yesterday said Stuart Novick came by her office a week ago saying he was going to be arrested that afternoon but wouldn't be able to put up bail and was considering leaving.

Lim testified in support of the state's request to have Novick held without bail. He currently is being held on $1 million bail.

The state believes Novick is a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Novick was indicted Wednesday on 59 counts, including first-degree child abuse, third-degree sexual assault and attempted third-degree sexual assault involving two girls ages 12 and 13.

Nearly 200 videotapes seized from his Kalani Valley home just weeks before his arrest shows him instructing young girls how to pose and zoom in on their breasts and buttocks. He is also seen massaging them, exposing himself and touching them in a sexual manner.

Novick is suspected of videotaping more than 30 other girls, many of whom he recruited for his environmental group, Protect the Planet. Police are trying to identify 36 girls whose names appear on a list taken from his home that ranks them by the appearance of their buttocks.

Police Detective Sheryl Sunia said Novick was arrested without incident as he was leaving his home carrying a toiletry bag, a change of clothes and over $2,300. He also had copies of bank statements for an account in his name and the name of one of his victims, Sunia said.

Upon questioning by Deputy Public Defender Ronette Kawakami, Sunia admitted that police found no plane tickets in his possession.

Kawakami also implied that for someone who has not been arrested before, bringing a toiletry bag and change of clothes in anticipation of being arrested would not be out of the ordinary. Novick has no criminal history.

Judge Victoria Marks continued the hearing to Sept. 21 to allow the defense to present witnesses.