A Starke County man who was taken into custody following a pursuit incident spanning two counties received his initial hearing in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Julius Novitzke, who is currently held in the Starke County Jail on a $1 million bond, pleaded not guilty to charges of Resisting Law Enforcement, Receiving Stolen Property and Reckless Driving and requested a public defender due to his inability to pay for his own counsel.
Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall appointed attorney Timothy Lemon to Novitzke’s case due to the fact that Lemon is representing Novitzke in another case in the court. Novitzke will have to pay a $100 public defender fee to the clerk.
Novitzke was arrested on June 17 following a high-speed pursuit from Koontz Lake into Marshall County that began when Novitzke failed to pull over for a traffic stop. A detective on patrol in Starke County recognized Novitzke as the driver of a black pickup truck in the area of county roads 1100 East and 700 North. Novitzke was known to be wanted on an active Starke County Circuit Court Warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine.
The pursuit ended in a cornfield near 12 Road and Maple Road in Marshall County. Novitzke attempted to flee on foot but he was quickly apprehended. A passenger in the vehicle, Shannon Dixon, surrendered immediately.
Novitzke’s pre-trial hearing is set for Aug. 7 at 8 a.m., followed by his second pre-trial conference and plea agreement deadline on Sept. 5 at 8 a.m.
