Montana Man Charged with Felony for Racially Motivated Assault

In a disturbing incident in Helena, Montana, a 21-year-old man has been charged with felony assault after allegedly shoving a man of Indian descent and telling him to 'go back to his country.' This case highlights a worrying trend of racially motivated attacks against South Asians in the U.S., linked to rising anti-immigrant sentiments. The accused, Jaxton Tayte Collins, faces serious legal consequences under Montana law, which addresses malicious intimidation and harassment. As the community grapples with these events, the small Indian American population in Montana is left to confront the implications of such hostility.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 29, 2026, 12:14 IST

Incident in Helena Sparks Outrage

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Washington, Oct 29: A 21-year-old resident of Helena, Montana, has been charged with a felony after allegedly assaulting a man of Indian descent and instructing him to "return to his country," as reported by local news outlets.

Jaxton Tayte Collins was arraigned on October 27 in the Lewis and Clark County District Court, according to the Helena Independent Record, which was also covered by the Billings Gazette. He faces charges of malicious intimidation or harassment.

The affidavit reveals that the victim was walking with friends in downtown Helena when Collins, dressed in an orange shirt and sporting a large cross necklace, confronted him. The victim, who wears a head covering, was reportedly shoved by Collins, who then made the derogatory remark.

Witnesses described the encounter as "frightening" and characterized it as an "attack," according to the report.

Upon the arrival of additional officers, Collins was located nearby. He admitted to having consumed alcohol at a local bar and acknowledged that he yelled at the victim, expressing anger, but denied physically pushing him.

Montana law defines malicious intimidation or harassment as actions taken against another individual based on their "race, creed, religion, color, national origin, or involvement in civil rights or human rights activities" with the intent to "terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend." Such actions can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both, as outlined in Section 45-5-221 of the Montana Code Annotated.

This incident is part of a troubling trend of attacks against individuals of Indian and South Asian descent in the United States this year, which community organizations attribute to increasing anti-immigrant sentiments.

It is noteworthy that Montana has a relatively small population of Indian Americans.