Couple hit with 41 counts in child sex-servitude case

Kim Smith

Friday, June 2, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

A Las Vegas couple accused of selling their children into sexual servitude were formally charged this morning with 41 counts and had their bail set at $20,000 each count.

The husband and wife are not being named by the Sun in order to protect the identity of their children. They appeared this morning before Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith, who set a June 15 preliminary hearing date.

They've been charged with three counts of accessory after the fact to sexual assault of a minor, lewdness with a minor, use of a minor in pornography, three counts of child abuse or neglect with substantial mental injury, three counts of involuntary servitude, purchase or sale of a person, four counts of preventing or dissuading a victim or witness from reporting a crime and 28 counts of sexual assault of a minor.

Prosecutors believe the father sexually abused one child over a 10-year period and that both parents allowed Donald Dustman, 64, to sexually abuse that child and two more.

Authorities contend the couple accepted money from Dustman to sexually abuse the children, who are now 18, 15, and 14.

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

Defense attorney Barry Levinson said neither of the parents knew what Dustman was allegedly doing to the children. Dustman, he said, was a family friend who was godfather to two of the children and helped the family financially in appreciation for care they gave him 10 years ago following a stroke. Levinson asked Smith to release the mother, saying that "everything is falling apart" in their lives, including use of drugs by their children.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Doug Herndon said the children are likely addicted to drugs because their parents allowed them to be sexually abused.

"If things are falling apart in these people's lives, frankly I don't give a damn," Herndon said.