Jury convicts man of assaulting teens

A jury on Friday found a Kalispell man guilty of repeated sexual assaults on two teenage girls.

Dewey William Fischer, 53, was convicted of two felony counts of sexual abuse. The verdict on Friday concluded a four-day trial in Flathead County District Court.

Fischer now faces sentencing for sexual assaults on two girls who were 17 and 14 years old at the time of the police report.

Kalispell detectives interviewed the girls in 2011 after receiving a tip about suspected sexual molestation. The victims described inappropriate encounters that spanned two years, according to court records.

Fischer originally was charged in August 2011 with five counts of various sexual assault charges. In June, Deputy County Attorney Stacy Boman filed to amend the charges to two felonies.

The jury deliberated for three hours before returning with the verdict.

Judge Heidi J. Ulbricht requested that a psychosexual evaluation of Fischer be done before sentencing. She denied a request for conditional release and Fischer was taken to the Flathead County Detention Center.

Fischer could face a lifetime sentence. A sentencing hearing was set for Nov. 19.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.