|
 Lee Warren, the Polk County probation officer of 22-year-old
Jesse Helt, said local authorities were unsuccessful in finding
Helt in Salem, Oregon after his mother told the Oregonian
newspaper that Cyrus had given him money to fly home.
Cyrus, 21, opted not to collect the video of the year award on
Sunday for her hit "Wrecking Ball" and instead sent Helt in her
place as a way to draw awareness to youth homelessness.
"I've cleaned your hotels rooms, I've been an extra in your
movies, I've been an extra in your life," Helt said at the VMAs.
"Though I may have been invisible to you in the streets, I have
many of the same dreams that brought many of you here tonight."
Helt has had a warrant for his arrest on a probation violation
for criminal trespass since Nov. 2011 after he failed to report
and comply with probation supervision, Polk County Director of
Community Corrections Martin Silbernagel said.
Helt's mother, Linda Helt, told the Oregonian that her son had
moved to Los Angeles a few years ago and had been homeless at
times.
[to top of second column] |
Court records indicate Helt was arrested in 2010 for criminal
mischief and criminal trespass, while a burglary charge was
dismissed. He was arrested twice in 2011 for probation violations,
according to records.
Cyrus defended Helt and accused the media of ignoring the issue of
youth homelessness in favor of his legal issues.
"I hope that this can be the start of a national conversation about
youth homelessness and how to end it," Cyrus wrote on Twitter.
"While they (media) obsesses over one homeless mans legal issue lets
help the other 1.6 million homeless youth," she added.
(Reporting by Teresa Carson; Writing by Eric Kelsey; Editing by
Diane Craft)
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