PHOENIX, Ariz. – A former security supervisor at a federal residential reentry center in Phoenix has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a female inmate under his supervision.
Morris Gary Hibbitt, 51, of Avondale, was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to 13 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and is required to register as a sex offender, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow.
Abuse of Power Behind Bars
The incident occurred on May 21, 2023, while Hibbitt was employed as a Security Supervisor at Behavioral Systems Southwest (BSS) in Phoenix. BSS is a residential reentry facility contracted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), designed to help inmates transition back into society as they complete the final stages of their sentences. Inmates housed at BSS remain in official federal custody.
While on duty, Hibbitt sexually assaulted a female inmate, violating both her trust and the standards governing federal custodial care. The victim, as part of the BOP’s transitional program, was entitled to the same protections as any inmate held in direct federal detention.
Federal Oversight and Accountability
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Brook of the District of Arizona.
“This case highlights the Justice Department’s continued commitment to holding correctional staff accountable when they abuse their authority,” said officials familiar with the sentencing. Though no official DOJ statement was issued with this release, similar cases have drawn condemnation from civil rights advocates and federal watchdogs who monitor misconduct in correctional settings.
Hibbitt’s sentencing follows a broader nationwide push by the Department of Justice to address sexual misconduct in detention facilities, including increased scrutiny of private contractors and reentry programs operating under federal contracts.
Case Number: CR-24-00992-PHX-GMS
Release Number: 2025-059_Hibbitt
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
justice.gov/usao/az
