Court denies Dasen's request
The Montana Supreme Court won't intervene in the prostitution trial of Kalispell businessman Dick Dasen Sr.
Dasen had asked the court to grant motions that Flathead District Judge Stewart Stadler has twice denied.
Dasen wanted dismissal of the 14 criminal charges against him because of a lack of speedy trial. He also wanted most evidence in the case suppressed because of the way search warrants were served.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Supreme Court said no.
An order signed by four justices briefly answered the request from Dasen's attorney, George Best.
The Supreme Court will assume supervisory control over district courts such as Stadler's when the judge has made a mistake of law that causes significant damage and the remedy by appeal appears to be inadequate, the justices wrote.
Dasen's case does not meet those criteria, they said.
That clears the way for Dasen's jury trial, scheduled to begin on April 25 in Stadler's court.
Dasen was arrested in February 2004 after a sting operation at a Kalispell motel, where he was recorded in an encounter with a woman who said he has paid her for sex.
Searches were conducted at his West Valley home and at two of his businesses, Budget Finance and Peak Development. Police collected computers and disks, files, phone records, canceled checks, pornographic photos, letters, and other documents.
Dasen is accused of spending millions of dollars for sex with women and girls for years. Some women allegedly received more than $100,000.
He is charged with sexual intercourse without consent that allegedly involved a 15-year old girl, promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, sexual exploitation of children (for allegedly photographing underage girls in sex acts) and 10 counts of prostitution.
Dasen pleaded innocent to all charges. His trial has been postponed twice.
He is being prosecuted by Dan Guzynski and Lori Adams, deputy county attorneys.
Some 450 people have been called to report to the courthouse as potential jurors.
Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com