Guilty on six counts

A jury Friday night convicted Kalispell businessman Dick Dasen on six counts and acquitted him on seven after a month-long trial on sex crimes.

There were stifled sobs from Dasen's family and from some of the supporters of the women and girls who testified against him. Dasen himself was stoic, as he had been throughout the trial.

At 7:30 p.m., the jury announced it had a verdict. Court Clerk Pam Renfro read their findings: Dasen is guilty of promotion of prostitution - a felony; sexual abuse of children - a felony; prostitution - a misdemeanor; and three counts of prostitution - felonies.

He is innocent of sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated promotion of prostitution, and five counts of prostitution.

He faces up to 126 years or life in prison and fines of up to $71,000 when District Judge Stewart Stadler sentences him on July 18.

The jury began deliberating Friday morning after a month of testimony. They heard from Deputy County Attorneys Dan Guzynski and Lori Adams that Dasen paid women and girls for sex, that he took sexual photos of girls under the age of 18, that he had sex with a girl under the age of consent at 15, and that he enticed poor and drug-addicted women and girls to become prostitutes with large amounts of money.

Dasen's attorney George Best argued that Dasen often engaged in extramarital affairs and that he gave money to some of the women he was involved with. But Best demonstrated that Dasen gave lots of money to lots of people who needed it and maintained that the sex and money were unrelated.

The jury's verdict is the culmination of an investigation that lasted more than a year and a half. While officials involved in arresting or prosecuting Dasen were relieved Friday, no one was rejoicing.

"What's on my mind tonight is his family," Guzynski said. "Today, his family was the victim."

"It was a tragedy, for the women and the community and the Dasen family," Adams said.

Kalispell Police Chief Frank Garner repeated that sentiment.

"I feel a lot of compassion for his family. It's a story of heartbreak and tragedy and loss for everyone," he said.

His office was assailed with criticism shortly after Dasen's arrest. The system worked the way it should, he said Friday.

"The jury got to decide what the values of this community are… You can't use your money for these types of things in our community," Garner said.

The lead investigator, Detective Lt. Roger Nasset, said he's glad the case is over.

"I don't think anybody comes out a winner," he said. "I think justice is done even though it doesn't make anybody happy."

County Attorney Ed Corrigan said he was proud of the work that Guzynski and Adams did for the community.

"They believed in what they were doing and they believed something had to be done," he said.

Adams said the split verdict shows the jury "paid attention and did what they were told. It shows they took their job seriously. They didn't lump all the charges together."

After the verdict was read, Dasen was taken into custody. Until now, he has been out on bond. With the conviction, bond was revoked and Dasen was placed in the county jail, pending a new bond hearing.

It is too early to say what sentence prosecutors will recommend for Dasen, she said.

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