Prostitute describes deals with Dasen

An admitted prostitute testified Tuesday morning that though the sex-for-money trade wasn't explicitly stated, Dick Dasen Sr.'s actions during an encounter made clear what he expected.

"At one point he said, 'Do you know what the arrangement is?'" Crystal Bingman Maynard testified. "And as soon as I said, 'Yes,' he started taking off his clothes. That to me would insinuate …"

Maynard's testimony was similar to that of numerous other women who have said their deals with Dasen were unspoken but clearly understood by them and the Kalispell businessman who is on trial for several charges related to prostitution.

Dasen's attorney, George Best, established with Maynard, as he has with other women in the case, that Dasen not only gave her money without demanding sex but also gave her money without any sexual exchanges.

Maynard testified she received some checks without giving Dasen, 62, anything in return. But more often than not, money was given as rain checks for sex at a later time, she testified.

Dasen gave her thousands of dollars for their many meetings, all of which she initiated, Maynard said.

Both the defense and the prosecution questioned Maynard in much the same manner as they have other witnesses.

In response to the prosecutor's questions, her answers portrayed Dasen as a man who gave a methamphetamine addict check after check for repeated sexual encounters. He often was rough during sex and occasionally wrote bad checks, she said.

Maynard's answers to Best's questions, though, showed Dasen as a man who wrote checks after hearing sad stories of financial woes. Maynard acknowledged Dasen gave her money after she told him she had no way to buy her children Christmas presents, needed to get her car fixed or pay off medical bills.

Some of those stories were true and others were lies, she acknowledged.

Best also extensively questioned Maynard about her drug use. He pointed out Maynard had difficulty remembering dates of alleged encounters or had inconsistencies between Tuesday's testimony

and previous depositions. The attorney asked Maynard if her drug use had damaged her memory.

"There are little things I forget that any normal person, drug user or not, forgets," she replied.

Best also asked Maynard about her failing to report her Dasen income to welfare agencies from which she received assistance for her two children.

"I didn't tell welfare because it's a little degrading," she replied.

Maynard said that she also didn't tell some people about her relationship with Dasen because he had a reputation for prostitution.

"If you told people you were getting money from Dasen," she said, "they kind of didn't look too highly on you and they got this disgusted look."

Maynard acknowledged she has pleaded guilty to prostitution related to the case and was fined for it. She also said she has been arrested for writing bad checks and operating a methamphetamine lab.

She received a deferred sentence of six years for the checks and the meth-lab case was dropped.

Best noted the charge was dropped after she talked to Kalispell police about Dasen; the attorney appeared to hint that the police and Flathead County prosecutors bargained with her in exchange for talking about Dasen.

Prosecutor Dan Guzynski objected, saying that was not the case. He later asked Maynard if her case was ever tied to Dasen's. She said it wasn't.

The trial, now in its third week, continues today.

Reporter Camden Easterling may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com