Sex-assault trial begins

The jury trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a girl opened in fits and

starts Monday in Flathead District Court.

The jury trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a girl opened in fits and starts Monday in Flathead District Court.

Ron Glick, 36, is charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at the Main Street business, Arcadia, that he owned in Kalispell in summer 2003.

According to his accuser, he touched her inappropriately. Children under 14 are presumed incapable of giving consent to sexual contact and anyone three years or more older than the alleged victim may be charged with felony sexual assault for such contact.

Glick has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the city of Kalispell and some individuals alleging defamation as a result of the investigation.

Prosecuting Deputy County Attorney Tim Wenz laid out the state's case against Glick in opening arguments Monday afternoon.

He said Glick and the girl, who knew him, were watching cartoons as they lay on a couch in the back of the store. Glick put his hands inside her shirt and down her pants and wouldn't stop when she told him to, Wenz told the jury.

The girl told her grandparents, who reported the incident to the police. Her mother, Wenz said, did not believe her. On other occasions, Glick stroked the girl's leg and watched her undress, he said.

The girl was placed in foster care, where she remains. She also has received treatment at Pathways Treatment Center, Wenz said.

Defense attorney Ed Falla told the jury that the girl has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder - not

because of anything Glick did, but because of years of abuse by her former stepfather.

He pointed out that in a statement given to police, the girl said she didn't know if Glick was awake and knew what he was doing at the time of the assault. He can only be convicted if he knowingly assaulted the girl.

After the girl made that statement in July 2003, a policeman said no further action would be taken in the case, Falla said. An investigation by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services also concluded that "no further action was warranted," he said.

In October 2003, Glick filed a $3 million lawsuit against the girl's grandparents, the police department and others, Falla said.

After that, police again interviewed the girl and the county attorney's office ultimately filed the felony charges against Glick, Falla said, implying that it was in retribution for the lawsuit.

In a hearing outside the jury's presence, Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams said the lawsuit is irrelevant.

"This is what Mr. Glick does," she said. Glick also has filed professional complaints against her and his own attorney and investigator, Adams said.

The jury won't be privy to some of the information raised Monday.

District Judge Kitty Curtis ruled that other alleged acts of misconduct, such as watching the girl undress, will not be admissible, even though Wenz alluded to them in his comments to the jury.

Glick also was charged with witness tampering for allegedly coercing the girl into signing a statement saying he was innocent. That charge was also filed because of "someone's agenda to get at my client because he sued them," Falla said. It was recently dropped.

Glick was arrested in Goldendale, Wash., where he moved after the alleged incident.

His lawsuit against the city remains active. He alleges witness tampering, slander, defamation of character, harassment and emotional harm.

Defendants include the city, the police department, the city attorney's office, Police Chief Frank Garner, officers Myron Wilson and Doug Overman, Mayor Pam Kennedy, former City Manager Chris Kukulski, assistant City Attorney Rich Hickle and other unnamed people.

Glick asserts that police tampered with witnesses by telling the alleged victim, her mother and others that he has a prior record for child molestation, which Glick denies. For that, he wants $1.25 million.

Glick says the incident in which he claims the witness tampering occurred also slandered and defamed him. For that, the city should pay him $1 million, he said.

Among his other monetary claims is $500,000 for emotional distress.

Testimony progressed slowly Monday, with Curtis taking breaks to hear several matters outside the jury's presence.

The sole witness Monday was the girl, who said her mother told her to say Glick was possibly asleep during the assault.

The girl, now 15, said she would like to be reunited with her family.

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