MENOMINEE, MI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A former Upper Peninsula sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Friday to six months in jail for sexually abusing a teenager last year.
Former Menominee County, Michigan, sheriff’s deputy Brian Helfert previously pleaded guilty to attempted accosting for immoral purposes. He declined the opportunity to address the court before the sentence was issued.
As a school resource officer at Menominee High School. Helfert acted as “mentor” to the teen, referred to as “John Doe” in court records. On Nov. 10, 2019, the victim asked Helfert for a ride home. Once there, Helfert touched the boy inappropriately.
Judge Christopher Ninomiya noted the law wouldn’t allow for a prison term, and he followed the joint defense and prosecution sentence recommendation for six months in jail. Helfert must register as a sex offender, and will serve the maximum of five years on probation. The judge also imposed the maximum-allowable fine of $2,000.
“To say this case is disturbing is a gross understatement,” said Judge Ninomiya. “At some point you turned into a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and that clothing was a sheriff’s uniform. You don’t deserve to wear a badge and you will never wear one again.”
“In my view, for what you have done, the court cannot legally punish you sufficiently or enough to satisfy the demands of justice. In other words, I wish there was more that I could do to punish you for your abhorrent criminal acts, Mr. Helfert. I’m not sure where it went wrong for you, or when you made the decision to go down this very dark and dangerous road, but I do know that your conduct is shameful and reprehensible. At some point in your career, you transformed from a protector to a perverted pedophile and predator. You deserve to go to prison for a very long time,” the judge said.
The judge noted that the plea agreement, approved by the victim, eliminated his ability to sentence Helfert to prison, and the judge did not want to violate that agreement.
Helfert was taken into custody immediately after the hearing.
Helfert was fired last December for violating sheriff’s office policies, procedures and rules of conduct.
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