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Local counselor asks Billings council to probe handling of alleged assaults at Montana Rescue Mission
Summary
A licensed counselor told the council he reported sexual-assault allegations tied to a counselor at Montana Rescue Mission more than two years ago, said criminal investigation progress has been slow, alleged an appearance of conflict involving the police chief and an MRM board member, and said he referred the matter to the FBI; he asked the council to seek a police briefing and review city funding to MRM.
Jonathan Angel, a licensed clinical professional counselor, used the public comment period at the Billings City Councils March 16 work session to deliver detailed allegations about the handling of sexual-assault complaints involving a counselor at Montana Rescue Mission (MRM).
Angel said he first reported the allegations to the Billings Police Department in December 2023 and then pursued administrative and licensing avenues. He described attending a licensing-board review that found cause to believe misconduct occurred and said a civil lawsuit was filed on Jan. 30, 2026 on behalf of two women. Angel asserted that more than 27 months have passed since his initial report and that no criminal charges had been filed; he said the federal court record shows a close personal relationship between the chief of police and an MRM board member, which he said creates an appearance of conflict. Angel said he referred documents to the FBIs Helena field office on March 13 and submitted a dossier to the council requesting three steps: a formal briefing from the Billings Police Department on the status of the criminal investigation (and whether DCI assistance was considered); a review of the citys funding relationship with MRM; and a public acknowledgement and response for the women who disclosed the incidents.
The council cut the speaker short at the three-minute public-comment limit; Chief of Police Rich St. John had been present earlier in the meeting but did not provide a sustained on-the-record response to Angel's allegations during the comment period recorded in the transcript. The council did not take immediate action on Angels requests during the work session, but Angel said he had provided written materials to the council in hard copy and via electronic submission.
