If running inside onRelease when it shouldn't

1

For some reason the code below allows the if statement to run when I do a onRelease. Any idea why it is actually getting into the if statement. I traced out helton before it reaches the if and it says 2.

Thanks,
Saveth

for (i=0; i<=thumbCount; i++) {
        _root.worldMc["th"+i].onRelease = function() {
            var helton:Number = 2;
            if (helton=1) {
                trace("hit");
                currentButton.loader_mc.gotoAndStop(1);
                currentButton = this;
                rotate = this.angle;
                clip = this;
                this.loader_mc.gotoAndPlay(1);
                clearInterval(rotateInterval);
                clearInterval(restartInterval);
                restartInterval = setInterval(startInterval, 15000);
            }
        };
    }