Sex-abuse case:

Trial set to start Monday

The trial of a Sanders County man accused of imprisoning and sexually abusing a young woman for years is scheduled to begin Monday in Thompson Falls.

Jury selection for the weeklong proceedings starts at 9:15 a.m.

Douglas James Guill, 55, is charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, all felonies.

According to court documents, Guill confined and sexually abused the now 23-year-old victim for 16 years, saying "he was God and that he decided who would go to heaven and who would go to hell."

Guill originally was slated to be tried jointly with his wife, Nicole, but their cases were separated during a Feb. 13 hearing before District Judge Kim Christopher.

Nicole Guill, 36, is charged with two counts of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor assault. Her trial has been continued.

During the pretrial conference, the number of witnesses was reduced from 200 to between 30 and 50, according to Nicole Guill's attorney, Noel Larivee. The witness list includes sexual-abuse experts, investigators and family members.

It is not known whether Douglas Guill or his alleged victim will take the stand.

In court papers, prosecutors outline Douglas Guill's systematic program of abuse and repression. The abuse, which allegedly began when the victim was 6 and continued until she was 22, occurred on a weekly and often daily basis.

Nicole Guill, formerly Nicole Christensen, is accused of becoming involved in the sexual assaults when the victim turned 14, well after Nicole Guill moved into Douglas Guill's Heron residence.

The victim told investigators in November 2006 that Douglas Guill kept her isolated in the home against her will. He bought all her clothes until she was 15 and picked out what she wore after that. She was home-schooled, forbidden to date boys, and not allowed to leave the residence without Douglas Guill or another guardian, she said.

After eighth grade, the victim was permitted to read only the Bible - and then only with Douglas Guill's "interpretations," she told authorities. According to the victim, Douglas Guill reportedly said that God told him to molest her and if she revealed what he was doing she would go to hell.

A mental health counselor who examined the victim reported that "it appears her alleged abuser threatened her numerous times and led her to believe from a small child that he was 'God's Chosen' and had the right to use her as he saw fit. She was initially reluctant to notify law enforcement as she felt harm could come to her… and she would be sent to 'hell.'"

Douglas Guill is represented by Missoula criminal defense attorney Michael Sherwood.

Dan Guzynski, formerly a deputy Flathead County attorney, will prosecute the case. Guzynski now is Montana assistant district attorney and special prosecutor for the state.

Judge Christopher will preside over the trial.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com