Child pornography case dismissed after defendant dies

A Kalispell man facing charges stemming from the possession and distribution of child pornography has died while awaiting trial.  

Businessman Steven Dale Rasmussen, 58, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of children at his Dec. 11 arraignment before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court.  

Eddy scheduled a pretrial conference for April 29 and set June 1 as the tentative start date for a jury trial, but on Feb. 5 prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing Rasmussen's death.   

Eddy ordered the case dismissed the following day.  

Authorities began investigating Rasmussen after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in October, according to court documents. A phone account and email address linked to the 58-year-old had uploaded more than 10 files of child pornography or child sexual assault material to the Verizon Cloud between November 2023 and April 2025, court documents said.  

Additionally, an internet provider address linked to Rasmussen's Kalispell guitar shop had uploaded child sexual abuse materials to an instant messaging app between June 2024 and March 2025, according to court documents. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.