21-Year-Old Arrested in Helena, Montana for Racially Charged Assault

Helena, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : A 21-year-old man has been charged with a serious crime in Helena, Montana, after allegedly assaulting an Indian American and making racially charged comments. The incident occurred on October 27, when Jaxton Tate Collins appeared in Lewis and Clark County District Court.

According to a report by the Billings Gazette, Collins is accused of maliciously intimidating and harassing the victim. Court documents reveal that the complainant was walking with friends in downtown Helena when a man in an orange shirt and a large cross necklace approached them. The victim’s friend, who is of Indian descent, was wearing a head covering.

Witnesses reported that Collins pushed the victim’s friend and told him to “go back to your country.” Eyewitnesses described the encounter as frightening and characterized it as an assault.

When police arrived, they located Collins nearby. He informed officers that he had been drinking at a bar downtown and admitted to having told the victim to return to his country out of anger. However, Collins denied pushing the victim.

Under Montana law, a person commits the offense of malicious intimidation or harassment if they intentionally cause another individual to feel threatened or intimidated based on their race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or involvement in civil rights activities. Such actions can result in physical harm or property damage.

According to Montana Code Annotated Section 45-5-221, a conviction for this offense can lead to a maximum of five years in state prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

This case adds to a troubling trend of incidents targeting Indian and South Asian individuals in the United States this year. Community groups have linked these events to a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric. It is worth noting that the Indian American population in Montana is quite small.