Daily Press file photo Former Memominee County Sheriff’s Department deputy Brian William Helfert, left, is shown at a previous court appearance.

MENOMINEE — One of a series of cases involving a former Menominee County Sheriff’s Department deputy who is accused of sexually abusing boys for 15 years while serving as a school liaison officer was dismissed this week, but the case is expected to move forward in the future according to Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery Rogg.

Brian William Helfert, 57 of Menominee, initially faced 18 charges relating to the abuse of a Menominee teen in the case. The charges arose from a number of incidents that allegedly occurred between April 2013 and December 2019. The felony complaint claimed there was a history of sexual assault and abuse at the hands of Helfert over the six-year period.

The victim in the case reported to police he felt compelled to come forward after learning of Helfert’s plea and sentencing in another case in 2020. In that case, Helfert was sentenced to five years probation and six months in jail for the attempted accosting for immoral purposes of a Menominee teen over three year period. Helfert was also registered as a sex offender as a result of that case.

The charges in the case dismissed Friday, Feb. 18 included one count of child sexually abusive activity, eight counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of assault with intent of sexual penetration, and one count of indecency – males, procuring. Jury selection for the case was slated to begin Tuesday, but was subsequently canceled.

According to Rogg, the case was dismissed due to evidentiary issues and because the necessary witnesses are unavailable.

“I dismissed the case, but without prejudice, which means I can refile it. Which I do plan to do,” Rogg told the Daily Press.

Tuesday was not without hearings for Helfert, however. Probable cause conferences were held for each of four new felony cases against him in Menominee County District Court that day. Across the cases, Helfert is charged with a total of 18 felonies, including eight life offenses. The charges include child sexually abusive activity, criminal sexual conduct – first degree, criminal sexual conduct – second degree, criminal sexual conduct – third degree, and assault with intent to commit penetration.

The new charges represent incidents that are alleged to have occurred from 2003 to 2018. The three victims in the cases — all males, who now range in age from 17 to 32 — claim to have known Helfert through his role as a school liaison or D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer. The victims were students at Blesh Intermediate School in Menominee, Carney-Nadeau School and Stephenson Public School.

According to the complaints, one victim claimed he first met Helfert when he was in the fourth grade, though the abuse, which took place over two years, began when he was a high school freshman. The other two victims alleged single incidents of assault, with one taking place when the victim was a 12-year-old sixth grade student and the other taking place when the victim was 13. All of the victims knew Helfert for extended periods of time prior to the incidents.

Preliminary examination hearings for two of the cases and supplemental probable cause conferences for the remaining two cases have been set for April 6 before 95-A District Court Judge Robert J. Jamo. In the two cases where supplemental probable cause conferences have been scheduled, the dates for the preliminary examination will be discussed that day.

Jamo had previously denied bond for Helfert. That decision continues to apply, however, his defense has the right to file a motion to the court to readdress the issue.