Couple face more charges in abuse of kids

Kim Smith

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

A Las Vegas couple already facing prison for allegedly doing nothing to stop the sexual abuse of their children are now accused of accepting money from the 64-year-old suspect for the right to molest them.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Doug Herndon told Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith this morning that he expects to file conspiracy and aiding and abetting charges to the multitude of charges the couple already face.

The Sun is not naming the couple, who are in their 30s, to protect the identities of the children.

This morning was the initial appearance of the mother in the case, and the father will make his first court appearance Friday. A bail hearing for the mother is scheduled for Friday.

Metro Police arrested the couple after it was learned that they reportedly have known since 1994 that Donald Dustman, 64, has been engaged in sexual activities with three of their children, ages 18, 15 and 14.

"I'm also being told that Dustman has been providing them with money to pay all of their bills so they would keep quiet and allow him access to the kids," Herndon said.

The investigation has also revealed that the father has been sexually assaulting one of the three children, who is actually his step-daughter, for at least 10 years, Herndon said.

So far, the mother faces four counts of child abuse or neglect with substantial mental injury and two counts of dissuading a witness, Herndon said. The father faces 37 counts, including 28 counts of sexually assaulting a minor, three counts of child abuse or neglect with substantial mental injury and one count of dissuading a witness.

The mother is accused of trying to keep the children from talking with authorities about the allegations concerning the father and Dustman, and the father is suspected of trying to persuade one of the children from disclosing anything about him, Herndon said.

The parents took the 18-year-old to an attorney's office so she could sign an affidavit stating she had never been abused by the father, Herndon said. That took place before the police became involved in the investigation, Herndon said.

Herndon told Smith he intends to file a formal complaint listing at least some of the charges Friday. That complaint will likely be amended later on with the additional charges.

Defense attorney Barry Levinson told Smith that Dustman was only giving the family $200 a month, and it was in appreciation for care they gave him several years ago after a stroke.

His client is the one who turned Dustman in and should not be penalized with a high bail for the charges against him and his wife, Levinson told Smith.

After the hearing, Herndon said the children themselves turned in their father and Dustman.

The case began receiving attention when the oldest victim told police that Dustman had been having sexual contact with her since she was 11.

During a search of Dustman's storage unit, police found about 1,000 pornographic photos of young girls and several pornographic videos featuring young girls.

Police believe Dustman produced the videos and had been taking the photos since the early 1990s.

Not everyone in the photos or videos has been identified yet, Herndon said.

Shortly after seizing the items, police launched a search for a young, adult woman named Blanch who was shown in two videos, one with Dustman and one with the oldest victim when she was about 12.

Herndon said Blanch came forward last week after seeing articles about her in the local newspapers. She has since confirmed much of what the police suspected about Dustman and the couple.

"She does not face charges," Herndon said. "We have no reason to believe she knew what all Dustman was doing, for how long or the age of the person in the video with her."

Herndon said Blanch was 19 at the time the videos were shot and did not realize the victim in the video with her was only 12.

Dustman was charged on April 16 with 78 counts, including sexual assault of a victim under 16, possession of child pornography and use of a minor in the production of pornography.

Dustman is already negotiating with him for a plea agreement, Herndon told Smith.

Herndon said after the hearing that one of the victims in the case is actually a niece of the couple that was placed in their care after her father went to prison for murdering one of her siblings.