Man visiting Helena charged with sexually assaulting 9-year-old girl

A 32-year-old man was charged Tuesday with allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl in Helena.

Angelo Christopher Zacharias, 32, was charged in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court on Tuesday with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of sexual assault. All three are felony charges.

Zacharias was arrested on the charges in the early-morning hours Tuesday, about 24 hours after the alleged assault took place.

The victim’s mother reported to Lewis and Clark County sheriff’s deputies that her daughter had told her she had been assaulted by Zacharias. The mother had been at work from 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 until about 1 a.m. early the next morning, when the assault occurred, according to an arrest affidavit.

The victim and her mother were taken to St. Peter's hospital for a medical exam.

The victim kicked and punched Zacharias and telling him to stop, the affidavit states. It also states there was medical evidence supporting that the assault occurred, and that detectives found evidence at the home that also indicated that was the case.

When deputies went to the home to investigate further and detain Zacharias on a local warrant, they found him unresponsive inside, according to the affidavit.

His mother told deputies Zacharias had driven into town on a motorcycle to get alcohol and that he had consumed it along with prescription medication. When deputies asked her why he did so, according to the affidavit, she responded that it was because he had sexually assaulted the victim.

He was initially taken to St. Peter’s hospital for treatment but was released and arrested around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

His next court date had not been set as of Tuesday afternoon.

Sexual assault carries a minimum penalty of four years in prison, but up to 100, while each count of sexual assault without consent in this case would carry a 100-year sentence with no possibility of parole until after at least 25 years.

Editor's note: This story was updated to remove potential identifying factors of the victim.