Montana Man Faces Felony Charge After Allegedly Shoving Indian-Descent Man and Telling Him to Leave US

WASHINGTON– A 21-year-old Montana man has been charged with a felony after allegedly shoving a man of Indian descent and telling him to “go back to his country” during an encounter in downtown Helena, according to court documents cited by local media.

Jaxton Tayte Collins appeared for arraignment on October 27 in Lewis and Clark County District Court, where he faces a charge of malicious intimidation or harassment in connection with the alleged incident.

The case was reported by the Helena Independent Record in an article also published by the Billings Gazette.

According to a police affidavit, the incident occurred when the victim was walking with friends in downtown Helena, the capital of Montana.

The complainant told responding officers that a man wearing an orange shirt and a large cross necklace approached his friend, who was described in court documents as someone “who is of Indian descent and wears a head covering”.

The suspect, later identified as Collins, allegedly pushed the man with both hands before making a discriminatory remark about his national origin.

According to the affidavit, Collins “told him to go back to his country”.

Witnesses described the confrontation as “frightening” and characterized it as an “attack”, according to the local news report.

Police officers responding to the incident located Collins nearby and questioned him about the confrontation.

Collins reportedly acknowledged that he had been drinking at a downtown bar before the encounter.

According to the affidavit, he admitted shouting at the victim “to go back to his own country because he was angry”.

However, Collins denied physically pushing the man, disputing the allegation that he had shoved the victim.

Prosecutors charged Collins under Montana’s malicious intimidation or harassment statute, which addresses offenses motivated by characteristics such as race, religion, national origin and participation in civil rights activities.

Under Section 45-5-221 of the Montana Code Annotated, the law applies when an individual intentionally engages in threatening or intimidating conduct against another person because of their race, creed, religion, color, national origin or involvement in civil rights or human rights activities.

The statute covers conduct intended to “terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend” that results in bodily injury, creates a reasonable fear of bodily injury or causes property damage.

A conviction carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

The charge is a felony, reflecting the seriousness with which Montana law treats certain acts of intimidation or harassment motivated by prejudice.

The allegations against Collins have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted.

The incident comes amid concerns about reported harassment and discrimination targeting Indian Americans and other South Asian communities across the United States.

Community organizations have linked some incidents involving individuals of Indian and South Asian descent to increasingly hostile rhetoric surrounding immigration and national identity.

Although Montana has a relatively small Indian American population compared with states such as California, Texas and New Jersey, the case highlights concerns about bias-related confrontations beyond major metropolitan areas.

Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the victim’s identity or whether he sustained any physical injuries during the alleged encounter.

The case remains pending in Lewis and Clark County District Court. (Source: IANS)