A Kalispell business owner is facing multiple felonies in Flathead County District Court for allegedly uploading and disseminating child pornography.  

Prosecutors brought Steven Dale Rasmussen, 58, up on counts of sexual abuse of children, possession of material, and sexual abuse of children, victim 12 or younger, following an investigation kicked off by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in October. Rasmussen, who was released from custody after securing a $150,000 surety bond, was expected to appear before Judge Amy Eddy on Dec. 11 for his arraignment.  

Flathead County Sheriff's Office detectives began investigating Rasmussen on Oct. 9 after learning that a phone account and email address allegedly connected 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, according to court documents.  

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also learned that an internet provider address allegedly linked to Rasmussen's North Meridian Road guitar shop had uploaded child sexual abuse materials to an instant messaging app and shared with other users between June 2024 and March 2025, court documents said.  

Detectives met with Rasmussen at his store on Nov. 26 after securing a search warrant for the cell phone tied to the uploaded child sexual assault materials, according to court documents.  

Rasmussen allegedly confirmed he had a cell phone with two numbers attached to it, one of them being the number listed in the search warrant. He also confirmed he owned the store and employed no one else, court documents said. Rasmussen additionally identified an email address linked to the child sexual assault material as belonging to him, court documents alleged.  

Sexual abuse of children, victim 12 or younger, the more serious of the two charges, carries a maximum penalty of 100 years behind bars, with no eligibility for parole for the first 25 years, and a fine of $50,000. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].