Gregory Novick Jr., 29, of Michigan Avenue, is accused of assaulting the woman in her Chestnut Street, Lower Burrell residence, allegedly after a night of drinking.
Police say Novick, the victim and another woman were drinking at a Lower Burrell bar along Leechburg Road until last call and then walked to the victim's residence, where they drank more alcohol.
At about 3:30 a.m., Novick allegedly tried to kiss and touch the victim, who told police she pushed Novick away several times.
Then, police say, Novick grabbed her by her throat and punched her, including breaking her nose.
According to a police report, the woman told them she had a similar experience with Novick in the past but she didn't file a police report.
On Friday, District Judge Cheryl Yakopec ordered him sent to the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bond pending a preliminary hearing on July 12.
According to arrest papers, in February 2012, Novick came home "highly intoxicated" on Feb. 15 and wanted to talk to his grandmother but the dog growled at him and wouldn't let him near her.
Novick then is accused of luring the dog into the kitchen where he used a hatchet to kill the animal.
The grandmother told police that, after the dog left her side, it suddenly was quiet in the house and, a brief time later, Novick told her he killed the dog.
She didn't believe him and asked where the dog had gone.
According to the police report, Novick told her he put the dog in a burn barrel. Novick then left the house, according to police reports.
The next morning, his grandmother saw foot prints in the snow. The tracks led from the house to the barrel. When she opened the lid, she saw her beloved dog's bloody body.
He pleaded guilty to charges in that case.
(Tribune Live - July 1, 2016)
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