NEWS

Great Falls man arrested for giving inmate DVD

Kristen Cates
kcates@greatfallstribune.com
Lee Houle

A 61-year-old Great Falls man is facing a felony charge for allegedly bringing a DVD to a state inmate at the Cascade County Regional Jail.

Norbert Lee Houle is charged with transferring illegal articles. Houle is also the homeless student coordinator for Great Falls Public Schools.

According to court documents, video surveillance from the Cascade County Regional Jail indicates Houle, who was leading an Alcoholics Anonymous support group meeting for state inmates, brought a DVD to an inmate during an August meeting.

Court records indicate it is illegal for volunteers to bring anything into the facility without prior approval of the program coordinator. Detectives with the Cascade County Sheriff's office report that on Aug. 5 at approximately 7 p.m., Houle entered the jail to conduct an AA meeting. He held up the DVD "300 Rise of the Empire" and gave it to an unidentified inmate. The inmate reportedly put the movie in his waistband, went to the bathroom and returned and walked up to Houle. At that point the inmate gave Houle back the movie case.

This movie is not allowed in the jail because of its content, court records indicate.

Mindy Kiser, human resources manager for Great Falls Public Schools, confirmed Houle is employed with the district and that the district has been assured there was no connection to the school district in this incident.

"But we are conducting an internal investigation," she said.