MEDFORD, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – A 25-year-old Phillips man entered a ‘no contest’ plea Wednesday in a stabbing in front of two children.
Derek Novak was convicted of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and aggravated battery in a plea deal with prosecutors. The most serious charge, attempted homicide, was dismissed.
He is to be sentenced Oct. 25.
The fight involving Novak and 34-year-old Stormy R. Webber of Medford happened out May 10 on County Highway Q just off state Highway 64. Children were in the cars of both men at the time as well as two women, police said.
Novak is the father of a child he had with a woman now in a relationship with Webber. The incident started because of an argument over child custody. Novak’s wife told investigators Webber grabbed her husband by the throat with both hands and pushed him into a car. Novak had a knife, showed it, and then the struggle continued. She claims the two men ended up on the ground with Webber on top of Novak, punching him in the face, before Webber was stabbed two or three times.
