Miley's Homeless VMAs Date Is Wanted by Cops

Apparently he violated probation in Oregon, then skipped town
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 27, 2014 9:00 AM CDT
Updated Aug 27, 2014 10:59 AM CDT
Miley's Homeless VMAs Date Is Wanted by Cops
In this Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, file photo, Miley Cyrus, left, stands with Jesse Helt holding her award at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.   (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, file)

The young homeless man who accompanied Miley Cyrus to the MTV Video Music Awards has a warrant out for his arrest in Oregon. Jesse Helt, 22, was arrested on charges of criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and burglary in 2010. According to court records, he broke into the apartment of a man who had been selling what Helt believed to be bad marijuana. Helt, who was 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and probation. The arrest warrant was issued in November 2011 after he violated probation. Helt moved to Los Angeles and lived on the streets while trying to find work as a model, gaining worldwide attention Sunday when Cyrus let him accept her award for video of the year.

Helt, who met Cyrus through Hollywood homeless center My Friend's Place, used the platform to call attention to the issue of youth homelessness. "I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost, and scared for their lives right now," Helt said. "I know this because I am one of these people." Polk County Director of Community Corrections Martin Silbernagel said yesterday officials are trying to locate Helt and arrest him. As Helt's moment in the sun took a dark twist, Cyrus said via Twitter: "People who are homeless have lived very hard lives. Jesse included." She then asked: "Does looking down upon the homeless help people excuse their inaction?" (More Miley Cyrus stories.)

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