A woman facing federal drug charges filed a petition recently asking for the return of her 2021 Infinity automobile that was seized September 4 as part of a drug-related criminal investigation.
Sixty-two-year-old Kathleen Novy filed her petition acting as her own attorney in the Civil Division of Baxter County Circuit Court December 1.
A joint motion to dismiss the action was filed this week. In the motion, it was agreed by both parties that any and all holds on Novy’s vehicle would be released and that she could take possession of her vehicle after she paid the $1,500 due for towing and storage fees.
According to the joint motion to dismiss, Novy would be allowed to “take possession of her vehicle immediately upon payment.”
Circuit Judge Andrew Bailey signed an order of dismissal based on the joint motion on Monday. The case was dismissed with prejudice meaning it cannot be refiled.
Novy alleges that her car was taken by or at the direction of 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David L. Ethredge and he was named as the single defendant in the civil action. In her petition, she said the car was seized from her residence along Lake Park Lane in Mountain Home on September 4 and taken to a local towing company’s lot.
Novy was among a group of people arrested during an operation conducted by a number of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Those arrested were charged with selling methamphetamine and cocaine.
Some of the people face state charges and others, including Novy, are being charged in federal court.
According to electronic federal court records, Novy is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on January 8, 2026, and a jury trial four days later. It is likely that those dates will be continued.
The conditions of release in Novy’s federal case were modified last month to allow her to live with a relative in Mountain Home in order to “get her affairs in order, including selling what personal property she can” and arranging several medical appointments.
Prior to the modification of the conditions of release, Novy had completed a six-month drug treatment program on an inpatient basis at Harbor House in Fort Smith. She will continue outpatient treatment via Telehealth from Mountain Home, according to federal court records.
Novy has a history of drug charges in both state and federal courts.
The federal government has requested permission from the court to enhance any sentence handed down to Novy on her current charges stemming from allegedly distributing drugs. According to court records, the request is based on a prior drug case against Novy filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
In that case, Novy was convicted on charges of involvement in the possession and distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 9, 2009.
If the court approves the enhancement request in her current Arkansas case, Novy could receive more prison time, larger fines and a longer period of supervised release after leaving prison.
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