Pro Bowler faces child sexual abuse charges after being arrested during US Open match | American Sports

A Pro Bowler who was arrested by federal marshals while playing in the US Open earlier this month has been extradited from the United States. Indiana Return to Ohio to face charges related to child sexual abuse charges.

Brandon Novak, 35, of Chillicothe; OhioHe was transferred Thursday from the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis to the Ross County Jail in Ohio, where he was charged with unlawful use of a minor in a work featuring nudity and sexual conduct involving a minor, according to court records. He is being detained on suspicion of pandering to the issue. Records do not indicate whether he has hired an attorney.

Novak was taken into custody at the 2024 U.S. Open Bowling Tournament in Indianapolis on Feb. 1, but authorities at the time said only that he was wanted on a warrant based on a secret indictment.

When authorities arrested Novak, he was in the seventh frame of the second match of the tournament.video footage From The 11th Frame’s YouTube channel He claims to have shown the moment Novak was arrested. Novak is out of frame, but several other bowlers have their heads in his lane during the action.

Even after his arrest, Novak continued to score high enough to finish in 36th place, earning him a $1,500 prize. The US Open is his one of his five major tournaments on the PBA circuit.

Novak had been under investigation by Chillicothe police since February 2023, according to the report. Obtained by Columbus Mission As requested by the Ohio Public Records Act. It said Chillicothe police detectives received a complaint from Facebook that Novak’s account was associated with child sexual abuse material.

Authorities quickly executed a search warrant at Novak’s residence and interviewed him, according to the report. During the interview, Novak said he purchased pornography from someone on the social media app Snapchat, but said he did not initially know the video contained child sexual abuse material. He later admitted that he knew he was purchasing material related to child sexual abuse and took steps to cover it up, authorities said.

According to his profile, Novak has been a Pro Bowler for more than a decade and has won two tournaments. Pro Bowlers Association website.

The Ohio native is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on March 21st. No attorney was listed in court records as of Friday.