PHOENIX, Arizona — A former security guard in Phoenix will spend over a year behind bars for a crime that’s left a community shaken and raised big questions about safety in reentry centers. Morris Gary Hibbitt, 51, from Avondale, was sentenced on April 14, 2025, by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 13 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sexually abusing a female inmate. Hibbitt, who now must register as a sex offender, carried out the assault while working as a security supervisor at Behavioral Systems Southwest (BSS) in Phoenix, a place meant to help inmates get back on their feet.
The assault happened on May 21, 2023, when Hibbitt, on duty at BSS, abused a woman under his supervision. BSS is a residential reentry center that works with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to support inmates transitioning back into society while they finish their sentences. These inmates are still in official custody, legally unable to consent to any sexual acts with staff—a fact Hibbitt admitted in his guilty plea on June 17, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Z. Boyle. “I knew resident inmates, as prisoners, were legally incapable of consenting to a sexual act with staff, including me,” Hibbitt stated in his plea agreement, showing he understood the power he abused.
The case has sparked outrage in Arizona, with many calling for better oversight at facilities like BSS. Advocacy groups like Middle Ground Prison Reform, which has fought for inmates’ rights in the state for over 40 years, are pushing for stricter rules to protect vulnerable people in custody. The investigation, led by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General and the FBI, showed how seriously authorities took the breach of trust. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Brook, from the District of Arizona in Phoenix, handled the prosecution, ensuring Hibbitt faced justice.
Hibbitt’s sentencing on April 14, 2025, marks the end of a nearly two-year legal battle, but for many, it’s just the start of a bigger fight. Community leaders hope this case will lead to real change, making sure inmates—already in a tough spot—aren’t put at risk by the very people meant to keep them safe.
Published by State Gleam
Keywords: Morris Gary Hibbitt, Sexual Abuse, Behavioral Systems Southwest, Phoenix Arizona, Inmate Safety, Sentencing, April 14
