An online fundraiser has generated nearly $30,000 for Jaxton Tayte Collins, 21, who faces charges of malicious intimidation or harassment and assault. The accusations stem from an alleged incident in August where Collins is accused of shoving an Indian man and shouting a xenophobic remark.
According to charging documents, police responded to a report of an assault in Helena, Montana, on August 7. The alleged victim, who was wearing a head covering, told officers that Collins told him to "go back to his country" and shoved him. Collins has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The fundraiser, organized by an X user identifying as a "demonetized White independent journalist," states that Collins "told an Indian to go home. Now he’s facing a felony for saying it." The description also contained inflammatory remarks about "H-1B lottery winners and racial aliens." As of Tuesday, the fundraiser had garnered $28,400 towards a $40,000 goal.
White supremacist groups, including the Big Sky Active Club, have contributed to the fund. The Anti-Defamation League describes active clubs as a nationwide network of white supremacist groups who see themselves as fighters. The Big Sky Active Club encouraged followers to support Collins, framing his case as a violation of "first amendment rights and the freedom of Montanans to verbally express themselves."
Collins reportedly admitted to drinking and shouting at the man after leaving a bar, but denied shoving him. His next court appearance is scheduled for April. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the felony charges, issuing a statement that "Everyone, regardless of their background, race, or faith, deserves to walk safely in our public spaces without facing racist harassment or targeted violence." The organization urged law enforcement and the judicial system to treat hate-motivated offenses with seriousness.
Records indicate this is not Collins' first encounter with the law. In 2024, he faced charges including attempted burglary, resisting an officer, and criminal mischief in Florida. He allegedly attempted to break into a supermarket, damaging the door and resisting arrest. That case was dismissed after he complied with a pretrial intervention contract.
