Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
The Hill County Attorney's Office today filed a felony charge of sexual abuse of children against a Havre business owner.
A court document said Havre police found hundreds of pornographic movies, magazines, books, photographs and slides depicting underage boys and girls at the home of Doug Heltne. Also found were retail store ads with images of children in bathing suits and newspaper articles containing photographs of area teenage student athletes, the document said.
Police found the items after responding to an emergency call made by Heltne from his home on Jan. 21. Heltne, 62, was beaten in his home by another man
Heltne has refused to talk to police about the material, Havre police Lt. Russ Ostwalt said today.
Heltne, who owns Heltne's Service Center on First Street, could not be reached for comment today. A summons has been issued and Heltne is set to appear for arraignment on March 7.
Earlier this month, police took some of the materials found in Heltne's home to a Great Falls doctor, who said the images depicted boys and girls ranging in age from fewer than 10 years old to 19 years of age, the court document said.
Police found 310 VHS tapes and reel-to-reel movies containing pornography, the document said. The vast majority appeared to be amateur recordings, and some were “clearly marked professional photography,” the document said.
The material was found throughout Heltne's home - in two bedrooms, a hallway and several closets, the document said. Some of the items were stacked on the floor of the various rooms and closets. Others were in drawers of dressers and nightstands, according to the document.
Some images showed nude children performing or simulating sexual acts, the document said. Some of the images contained sexually explicit captions, it said.
Ostwalt said police are still going through the materials. Officers have not found evidence to suggest that any of the material was produced by Heltne, he said.
“If we find any that are produced by him ... the county attorney will be notified of that,” he said.
Ostwalt said police also have not found any evidence to suggest that the pornographic material depicted anyone from Havre or the surrounding area.
He said police don't know why Heltne kept newspaper clippings featuring local teenagers.
“We don't know the reason for that yet, because he is not speaking with us,” Ostwalt said.
He said police have not not found any evidence to suggest Heltne committed abuse.
The charge against Heltne carries maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Ostwalt said he does not know if there is a connection between the material and the assault on Heltne.
The businessman was severely beaten after he awoke to find a man in his home on Jan. 21. Heltne was treated at Northern Montana Hospital for injuries he suffered in the assault, including dislocated shoulders, a broken nose, chipped teeth and numerous cuts and bruises.
JoVon Quinn Johnson, 29, of Box Elder is being held in the Hill County Detention Center on $100,000 bail on a felony charge of aggravated assault in connection with Heltne's beating.
