Colorado television technician faces felony charges for 'hugging a customer so tightly she feared she might be raped' A technician for the DISH Network is facing felony charges for his conduct with an elderly woman Karen Loest, 70, said David Novinski, 34, forcefully pinned her arms and chest Novinski's lawyer says that he is 'someone who generally gives hugs' He also claims that when Loest first called Novinski's boss to complain, she never said she was injured By Dailymail.com Reporter Published: 23:48 BST, 21 April 2019 | Updated: 23:48 BST, 21 April 2019 Viewcomments David Novinski, 34, a technician for DISH Network is accused of forcefully hugging a customer A Colorado television technician is facing felony charges for allegedly hugging a customer so tightly that she feared her life might be in danger. Karen Loest, 70, told KDVR-TV that 34-year-old David Novinski, a subcontractor for DISH Network, gave her a 'bear hug,' pinning her arms and chest painfully, as she was showing him out the door after he completed his work earlier this month. The 70-year-old former sheriff's deputy said feared she might be raped, or worse. 'I walked over to see him out, and he proceeded to turn and put me in a bear hug,' Loest, a former sheriff’s deputy, said. 'At that point, I didn't know whether I was going to be raped … thrown down on the floor,' she said. 'He had me pinned — my arms and chest — and it hurt.' She said she pushed him away and told him to leave. He then waited awhile and apologized before leaving. Retired sheriff’s deputy Karen Loest, 70, says she feared she was going to be raped after cable repairman David Novinski wrapped her in a powerful bear hug before leaving her house Loest says she pushed Novinski off her and told him to leave. She says the repairman initially refused to do so, but later exited the property after apologizing 'He scared me,' she said. 'I didn't sleep for two or three days after that and I'm still not sleeping well. He knows where I live.' Novinski is charged with trespassing and causing bodily injury to an at-risk adult. His attorney, Mike McCullough, said Novinski often hugs people that he does work for. 'Frankly, this is one of the strangest cases I've ever seen,' said Novinski's defense attorney, Mike McCullough, of the Reisch Law Firm. 'Upon leaving, he gave her a three-second hug and then he left.' He said Loest didn't say anything about being injured when she called Novinski's boss. Novinski’s lawyer Mike McCullough says the charges against his client have been blown out of all proportion, and that McCullough’s affectionate nature was misunderstood Loest says she is still haunted by the encounter. ‘I didn’t sleep for two or three days after that and I’m still not sleeping well. He knows where I live,' she said 'Now, Novinski is unemployed, and in my view, because somebody didn't take the necessary steps to complete an investigation on this,' McCullough said. A protective order has also been issued ordering Novinski to stay away from Loest. McCullough says he will fight the charges. Novinski was arrested by Elbert County Sheriff's deputies and booked into the Elbert County Jail on April 7. He will next appear in court in late May. Meanwhile, DISH Network have released the following statement: 'We take the safety and security of our community very seriously. We are investigating the allegations regarding this individual who is an employee of an independent third party and not of DISH. This individual is no longer assigned to any DISH jobs. We remain in contact with the independent third party contractor and our customer.' Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility