The 49-year-old owner of a Helena Aikido school faces a felony charge for allegedly inappropriately touching a 13-year-old student.

Police arrested Clinten Jay George, who owns and teaches at Last Chance Aikido, Saturday on a charge of sexual assault by common scheme.

A woman member of the martial arts school suspected George was getting "too close" with the girl and confronted him about it on two occasions, according to documents filed in Justice Court Monday. After George denied any wrongdoing, the woman told the girl's mother, who subsequently contacted the police, about his allegedly inappropriate and suspicious behavior.

The girl would stay after class and be alone with George, court documents say.

On Saturday, a search warrant of George's Helena home was executed. His phone and computer were seized.

Police found 85 emails exchanged between the two.

"The content of the emails and times they are being written related to the ages of the individuals involved did appear to be inappropriate," court documents note.

During an interview Saturday, George told police that the relationship with his student of two years started with hugging and "petting" and had progressed in the last three months, the documents say. The two began inappropriately touching each other through their clothes, he told police.

George was released from the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center after posting $50,000 bond Monday evening.

Reporter Angela Brandt: 447-4078 or angela.brandt@helenair.com