Dasen ordered to reveal financial records

Dick Dasen Sr., embroiled in civil and criminal accusations of illegal sex acts, will have to reveal all of his financial holdings, according to a court order issued Tuesday.

Dasen, a Kalispell businessman, is charged with 14 criminal counts of prostitution and related crimes. He is being sued by one woman who says he coerced her into sex.

Two teenage girls also are suing Dasen, alleging that he and another woman conspired to sexually exploit them.

An attorney for one of the girls has asked for a complete financial disclosure by Dasen.

Dasen's attorney resisted, saying it is an invasion of Dasen's privacy and the request is premature because no jury has found that he should pay punitive damages to the girl. The civil case is set for trial in June.

After repeated requests for information on Dasen's assets, the girl's attorney asked District Judge Ted Lympus to order Dasen to make the information available.

"Dasen's financial information is particularly crucial … because plaintiffs have reason to believe that Dasen may be selling or moving assets in what may be an attempt to shield them from the judgment in this action," according to the girl's attorney, Monte Beck of Bozeman.

On Tuesday, Lympus ordered Dasen to come up with the financial report, which will be kept secret until and unless it becomes admissible in court.

Beck wants articles of incorporation and partnership agreements for every business entity under Dasen's ownership or control, plus information on real estate, any sale or transfers of interest in real property, any other people or business entities that hold property for Dasen's benefit and any property he holds for any other person.

Dasen also will have to produce all personal and business tax returns for the past five years; documentation of securities, stocks, bonds and mortgages; statements from checking and savings accounts; and a list of the contents of any safe deposit boxes.

In his order, Lympus said that Dasen "was involved in many businesses and the extent of intermingling of personal and business assets may take some time to unravel."

Over the years, Dasen's extensive business and community involvement has included Budget Finance, Peak Development Inc., the Outlaw Inn, City Service, Arrowhead Construction, Ashley Square, Southfield Tower, First National Banks in Whitefish and Eureka, Christian Counseling Service, Big Mountain and BankWest.

Lympus also settled another issue in the case.

He ordered Dasen to give a deposition while he is in Montana. After he was criminally charged, Dasen moved to Arizona to await trial.

"Dasen is taking the position that plaintiffs must travel to Arizona, where one of Dasen's homes is located, to take his deposition. Unlike Dasen, plaintiffs do not have multiple homes and substantial resources," Beck wrote.

Lympus agreed that because Dasen will be in Montana for trial, he can make himself available for a deposition.

Dasen is scheduled to return to Kalispell in April to stand trial on the criminal charges.

In her lawsuit, the girl alleges that on Aug. 1, 2003, Dasen and another woman lured the girl and a teenage friend to Neise's home.

There, according to the lawsuits, Dasen assaulted and raped the girls.

Court documents in the case say that the woman, Kim Neise, paid them $500 and Dasen later issued a $2,000 check to one of the girls on his personal account.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com