John Jefferson
Sherry Novelli (Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida woman was recently caught hiding a missing teenage boy she wanted to adopt, Sunshine State law enforcement says.
Sherry J. Novelli, 61, stands accused of one count each of interfering with the custody of a minor and contributing to delinquency, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
On Feb. 10, deputies received the call about the missing boy from an academy for teenage boys who have had failed placement in foster care, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
“Deputies learned that the boy had been granted permission to go to South County Park, but he was unable to be located when staff attempted to retrieve him from the park later,” the press release reads. “It was also learned that the boy had been involved in an unreported incident earlier in the day that involved a volunteer.”
Novelli was allegedly that volunteer, according to law enforcement. At the time the boy went missing, she was in the process of trying to adopt the boy — but earlier that day she was allegedly told to never have contact with the boy again.
The defendant when initially interviewed, allegedly said she last saw the boy at the park — but had simply given him food and left.
“The case was passed to a detective for further investigation,” the press release goes on. “The detective made contact with Crossroads and learned that Novelli had purchased the boy’s cellphone and was providing the service for it. She had also opened a bank account in his name.”
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During the follow-up interview, Novelli allegedly reiterated that she did not know where the boy was — but suggested law enforcement look in Tampa — roughly 100 miles due north of the academy in Punta Gorda.
“She also wanted to know what steps were being taken to locate him,” the press release goes on. “The detective arranged to meet with Novelli, but Novelli missed the meeting, rescheduling for later in the afternoon because she had a dentist appointment.”
As the investigation continued, the detective allegedly learned that Novelli had not actually taken any formal steps to adopt the boy and had been rebuffed in her efforts to remove the boy from the academy because she was not his legal guardian.
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Then, detectives allegedly pinged the boy’s phone and determined he was in Venice — a seaside town located roughly 30 miles northwest of Punta Gorda. The detective recalled that Venice was the same place Novelli said she was visiting her dentist.
“[T]he detective contacted several dental practices in that area to find where Novelli was receiving treatment and asked the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for a deputy to check that location,” the press release reads. “The teen was located in Novelli’s car in the parking lot of that office. Both the teen and Novelli were taken into custody.”
The boy allegedly said he made the decision to run away after learning the defendant could no longer visit him at the academy, according to the sheriff’s office.
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Novelli had also given the boy his laptop as a means of communicating with her, law enforcement claims.
And that’s allegedly not nearly all.
“The detective learned that Novelli had set the teen up in a condo and would come spend time with him there,” the press release goes on. “She brought alcohol, cigarettes, and a marijuana vape pen for him, and the two would drink alcohol together there.”
The pair also allegedly employed the use of a “code word” to signal her visits. There is no allegation the relationship between the duo was sexual — and the boy told the detective as much.
Novelli was arrested on Feb. 13 and made bail the next day, jail records show.
“Youth who are enrolled at Crossroads Hope Academy have already had a rough go of things,” Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said in a statement. “To further complicate their lives is not a ‘motherly’ thing to do, and it only further harms them. This woman made a series of poor choices.”
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