Mississippi man to stand trial for allegedly raping Helena woman

A 20-year-old Mississippi man is going to trial in Lewis and Clark County District Court for allegedly raping a Helena woman last year.

Christopher Dalton Gomes was scheduled for a change of plea hearing Thursday morning, but his attorney, Brent Flowers, told Standing Master Hannah Roe that Gomes had changed his mind and would like to stand trial instead. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 18.

Gomes is charged with one felony count of sexual intercourse without consent. He was arraigned in Lewis and Clark County District Court in May 2025, and his bond was set at $100,000, which he posted through a local bail bondsman shortly afterward, according to court documents. 

The affidavit states that on April 25, 2025, the Helena Police Department received a report from the victim alleging Gomes raped her on April 13, 2025. The victim told officers she and the defendant were kissing in the back seat of a vehicle parked in the Bill Roberts Golf Course parking lot.

According to documents, Gomes removed his pants and put on a condom, despite the victim telling him multiple times that she did not want to have sex with him. Documents state that Gomes removed the victim's pants and underwear and got on top of her as she continued to tell him to stop. According to the documents, the victim tried to back away and repeatedly told him to stop, but Gomes continued to have sex with her.

Gomes eventually stopped, and the victim drove him to his nearby home, the affidavit states. According to documents, Gomes is from Mississippi but was temporarily living in Helena.

She told police that shortly afterward, Gomes sent her an apologetic message on Snapchat, which she provided to police.

Three days after the alleged assault, the victim was examined by a sexual assault nurse examiner at St. Peter's Health. The exam showed she had genital injuries and bruising on her thighs, a revised affidavit states.

Police obtained a warrant for a pretext phone call with Gomes and recorded a call between him and the victim on April 30. During the call, documents state, Gomes made several incriminating statements acknowledging that he knew the victim did not want to have sex but continued anyway.