The Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees voted 6-0 on Tuesday to terminate a school employee facing multiple felony charges related to the sexual assault of a minor student, ktvh.com reported. The board’s action followed an internal investigation that concluded the employee had engaged in sexual harassment against a student.

The Vote and Investigation

James Michael Huber, who worked as a para-educator at both C.R. Anderson Middle School and Kessler Elementary School, was fired at the September 8 board meeting. Helena Public Schools had placed Huber on administrative leave after his arrest in March and subsequently launched a Title IX investigation under the 1972 Educational Amendments Act. That investigation determined Huber had engaged in sexual harassment against a minor student.

In a statement cited by ktvh.com, the district confirmed: “At its Board meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the Board of Trustees for Helena Public Schools voted unanimously to terminate the employment of James Huber.”

Criminal Charges

Huber faces five felony counts in total. Three counts allege sexual intercourse without consent involving a victim 12 years of age or younger, one count involves exposure, and one count involves sexual abuse of children. Each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 100 years.

Investigators found evidence of extensive digital communications between Huber and a student, including sexually explicit images and inappropriate messages exchanged through text and Snapchat. A single text thread between the two contained more than 36,000 messages.

Court Status

Huber was arraigned in Justice Court on April 14, at which point the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He has been unable to post a $200,000 bond and remains held at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center. His trial was pushed back after he requested an extension for a neuropsychological evaluation, and a new trial date has been set for March 29, 2027.