Maine State Police, Texas Rangers

Northport man arrested in connection with Texas sex crimes

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 2:00pm

    NORTHPORT - Maine State Police, working with Texas Rangers, arrested a Northport man Sunday in connection with a Texas charge of sex crimes with a minor.

    According to a news release from the Maine State Police, James M. Helms, 45, was arrested on Sunday morning at a house where he had been staying on Route 1. The release states that he is being held in Maine on a fugitive from justice charge and will face the sex crime charges once he is returned to Texas. 

    Members of the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Waldo County Sheriff’s Deputies accompanied a Texas Ranger to the home to assist in the arrest and a subsequent search of the property.   

    Helms has been living in Maine for the past year and working as a handyman in the Midcoast. The news release alleges that he fled Brownwood, Texas in 2018 as Texas Rangers were investigating him there.

    The computer crimes unit seized three cell phones from Helms and will review them for any connection to the Texas crimes or new sexual images involving children that were downloaded since he has been in Maine, according to Maine State Police. 

    Helms is being held at the Waldo County Jail.