Man Keeps Touching Pregnant Women's Bellies In Joliet: Victim

JOLIET, IL — John Claude Novak, the 27-year-old Crest Hill resident arrested last week after Joliet Police detectives say he rubbed a pregnant woman's belly while she shopped at the Walmart on Jefferson Street, was convicted of a similar crime seven years ago, court records show.

On June 25, 2015, Novak pleaded guilty to the crime of disorderly conduct and Novak was given two years of court supervision by Will County Judge Art Smigielski, plus $425 in court fines. The judge ordered Novak, then 20, to have no future contact with the victim. Novak was also ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation and comply with its recommendations. As part of his plea agreement with the Will County State's Attorney Office, Novak's charge of battery got dropped.

According to Joliet Police Detective Shawn Filipiak's criminal complaint, Novak knowingly touched the stomach of the pregnant woman "in such an unreasonable manner as to alarm and disturb" her on Jan. 5, 2015 at the Kohl's store, 2510 Route 59.

Following last week's latest arrest of Novak by Joliet's Police Department, Joliet Patch interviewed Novak's 2015 victim, Jennifer. Patch has chosen not to publish her last name.

However, Jennifer believes it's important for more women in the Joliet area to know about Novak, because she fears his crimes will escalate.

"Hopefully your follow-up will encourage others to come forward," Jennifer wrote Joliet Patch's editor on Monday. "When he did it to me, he followed me out of Kohl's, and we were in the parking lot. After the fact, I thought what would have happened if I was putting my daughter in the car seat, and he grabbed me from behind. I knew better than to go to my car, but not everyone knows that."

On Friday, Jennifer shared Joliet Patch's crime story about Novak on her Facebook page with friends and followers, informing everyone: "This is the guy that was charged with touching and trying to kiss my belly when I was pregnant with the girls. A woman posted a similar story a few weeks back, and we connected. I had a sick feeling it was the same guy. Hoping he gets harsher punishment this time since he's a repeat offender."

Last Thursday, Novak surrendered to the Joliet Police Department in connection with his two latest criminal charges of battery and disorderly conduct.

Police say Novak touched the belly of a pregnant woman inside the Joliet Walmart store, asking her questions about her pregnancy, on Oct. 23. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. at 2424 West Jefferson St. Police said they learned that Novak approached the woman in one of the store aisles and began touching her stomach while asking her questions about her pregnancy.

"The contact was unsolicited by the victim," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said. "It was learned that the suspect was unknown to the victim." Novak then ran out of the Walmart store as the victim notified a store employee, police noted.

Novak was not booked into the Will County Jail in connection with his latest case. Instead, Joliet police released him on an I-bond, and he remains free.

"I'm a counselor and I truly do worry what will happen if he's given a slap on the wrist again and his behavior escalates," Jennifer wrote Joliet Patch. "I'm hoping the police see the pattern, and he gets something harsher this time around."

As of Tuesday, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow had yet to file formal criminal charges against Novak. The Crest Hill man resides in the 2300 block of Green Street, his Joliet arrest log noted.