Three alleged victims testify in sex-abuse trial

Three girls say Darwin Berosik coerced sexual favors from them by threatening to cause trouble for them. A jury will decide whether that is true.

Berosik, 39, is on trial for alleged sex crimes against the teens. In accordance with Inter Lake policy, the girls' identities are not disclosed.

One girl said she was at her home on a school day, drinking beer, when Berosik had sex with her. He told her that if she didn't consent, he would tell her mother that they had sex at her urging.

Another girl said that Berosik threatened a reprisal against her if she didn't have sex with him. She said that happened in the cab of his truck.

The other said she also was pressured into sex with Berosik, who said he would reveal that the girl had been having sex with an older man and the man would go to prison for statutory rape.

Two workers at Fun Beverage in Kalispell confirmed that Berosik and his truck were at the business on the day one of the girls said he molested her in the cab.

The woman who reported the girls' allegations to police testified Tuesday. She said she didn't believe the first girl's tale and didn't call the Flathead County Sheriff's Office until more than a week after the girls disclosed the story to her.

Berosik's attorney, Lane Bennett, has said the girls have motives to lie.

The prosecutors are Tim Wenz and Tammi Fisher, deputy county attorneys.

The trial is expected to last through Thursday in the court of District Judge Stewart Stadler.