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Local counselor asks council to review police response and funding ties after sexual-assault allegations at Montana Rescue Mission
Summary
A clinician told the council he referred documents to the FBI and asked for a police briefing, review of city funding relationships with Montana Rescue Mission, and a public acknowledgment to victims after he reported alleged sexual assaults more than two years ago; he also alleged an appearance of conflict involving the police chief and an MRM board member.
During non‑agenda public comment on March 23, Jonathan Angel, a licensed clinical professional counselor, urged the Billings City Council to use its oversight powers after he said he reported alleged sexual assaults by a counselor at Montana Rescue Mission (MRM) to the Billings Police Department and the Montana Board of Behavioral Health more than 27 months earlier.
Angel said the Board of Behavioral Health found cause to believe non‑consensual sexual conduct occurred in a review committee hearing and that a civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of two women on Jan. 30. He told the council he had made a referral to the FBI’s Helena field office for potential federal review, including alleged grant‑ or Medicaid‑billing fraud and concerns about a law‑enforcement command conflict.
Angel also alleged an appearance of conflict because Chief Rich St. John has a close personal relationship with a member of MRM’s board of directors; he said that relationship appears in sworn testimony from a federal case and asserted the appearance of a conflict of interest could explain a lack of criminal charges so far. Angel requested three actions by council: a formal briefing from the Billings Police Department on investigation status and whether DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation) assistance has been considered; a review of city funding relationships with MRM and related agencies; and public acknowledgment and a response to the women whose reports initiated the process.
The transcript indicates no full council response or decision on those requests during the meeting. Chief St. John had earlier presented other agenda items; the public comment concluded with Angel saying he had submitted supporting materials to council staff and the FBI. Councilors did not take immediate action on the requests during the work session and asked for staff follow-up where appropriate.
Note on reporting: this article reports only what the speaker said at the meeting. The claims Angel described involve third parties and pending investigations; they remain allegations until substantiated in court or by law‑enforcement findings.
