Afghan teen facing rape charge in Missoula is part of resettlement program

by Connor McCauley Thursday, October 21st 2021

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services confirms to NBC Montana that an Afghan man arrested last weekend in Missoula is here as part of a federal resettlement program. ... Jon Ebelt with DPHHS says Zabihullah Mohmand, 19, “was placed in Montana as part of the federal Afghan Placement and Assistance Program.”

Mohmand is charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent after an incident in downtown Missoula. ... Court documents say staff at the Residence Inn by Marriott downtown reported a disturbance between Mohmand and a woman around 4:15 Sunday morning.

According to the charging affidavit, the 18-year-old victim called police around 4:30 to report she had been raped at a hotel downtown. ... The victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, told police that she had met Mohmand at the Badlander along with other people. ... When the group left, Doe went with Mohmand to his hotel room.

Doe says he forced himself on her and raped her. ... Mohmand says Doe seemed to like him and claims all sexual acts were consensual. ... He told law enforcement he is on a worldwide trip from Afghanistan visiting Missoula.

“DPHHS manages the Montana State Refugee Program. As such, this program is working with individuals arriving in Montana as part of the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program. As of today, 20 individuals (combination of adults and children) are in Montana (Missoula) as part of the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program. This is since late September. To be clear, federal agencies are responsible for the vetting process prior to their arrival,” Ebelt told NBC Montana in an email.

We reached out to the International Rescue Committee for comment and have not heard back.

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