Colorado TV tech charged after giving customer 'bear hug'

By The Associated Press April 19, 2019 at 11:17am

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado television technician is facing felony charges for allegedly hugging a customer tightly.

Karen Loest told KDVR-TV that David Novinski, a subcontractor for Dish Network, gave her a “bear hug,” pinning her arms and chest painfully, as she was showing him out after he completed his work this month.

The 70-year-old former sheriff’s deputy said feared she might be raped. She said she pushed him away and told him to leave and he waited awhile and apologized before leaving.

He is charged with trespassing and causing bodily injury to an at-risk adult.

His attorney, Mike McCullough, said Novinski often hugs people and gave Loest a three-second hug before leaving. He said Loest didn’t say anything about being injured when she called Novinski’s boss. McCullough says he will fight the charges.

___

Information from: KDVR-TV, http://www.kdvr.com

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Submit a Correction →

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:

WJ Wire

The Associated Press

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter

@AP

Facebook

The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.

Location

New York City