Alleged victim testifies

The Daily Inter Lake

Testimony continued in Flathead District Court Wednesday in the sexual-assault trial of Darwin Berosik, who is accused of abusing two teenage girls.

One of the girls had testified Tuesday about alleged abuse by Berosik, and on Wednesday the second girl said that Berosik had groomed her to become sexually active with him starting at the age of 11.

Berosik is facing a retrial on two felony counts of sex crimes against children.

This is his second time in court after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in June. He was 39 then.

He remains charged with a third felony count of child-sex crimes. That count was separated from this court action and is scheduled for trial during the June 2007 jury term.

The second girl testified, under questioning by Tammi Fisher, deputy county attorney, that she had enjoyed Berosik's company when she was younger.

She told the jury about a variety of incidents involving fondling, pornography, prostitutes, and sex acts.

About one of the incidents, the girl testified that she did not tell her mother because she had done nothing about an earlier disclosure.

Defense attorney Lane Bennett cross-examined her, questioning her memory and credibility.

Testimony is scheduled to continue today.