A Morgan County jury convicted 25-year-old inmate Montarius Douglas of sexual battery on February 19, 2026, following a trial in the county’s Criminal Court. The charge arose from an October 19, 2024, incident at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, where Douglas approached Correctional Officer Amanda Gunter from behind as she was unlocking a secured door and grabbed her buttocks without her consent. The assault was captured on institutional video and confirmed through an internal investigation.

At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the unwanted sexual contact occurred while the officer was performing her official duties, meeting Tennessee’s definition of sexual battery as unlawful sexual contact without victim consent. Douglas claimed the officer had touched his shoulder earlier, which he interpreted as permission to touch her sexually—citing that he had not been touched by a woman since his incarceration began at age 18—but the jury rejected this defense and found him guilty.

District Attorney General Russell Johnson emphasized the verdict’s importance in holding offenders accountable and protecting correctional officers, who face challenging and dangerous work environments and deserve to perform their duties without harassment or assault. Douglas, currently serving a 15-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter from Gibson County and affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, remains housed at the Morgan County facility. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Edwards and Anna Howard (in her first jury trial with the office), with support from the Tennessee Department of Correction’s investigative staff.

Sentencing is set for June 18, 2026, where the state will seek a consecutive sentence, and Douglas will be required to register as a sex offender due to the conviction.