An Avondale man was sentenced to more than a year in prison and 10 years of supervised released after sexually abusing an inmate while being a security supervisor at a behaviorial health facility.

Morris Gary Hibbitt, 51, was sentenced on April 14, by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 13 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release for sexual abuse of an inmate. Hibbitt is also required to register as a sex offender, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Hibbitt was working as a security supervisor at Behavioral Systems Southwest in Phoenix on May 21, 2023, when he sexually assaulted a female inmate under his supervision. BSS is a residential reentry center contracted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to aid inmates in their transition back into the community while completing their prison sentences. Inmates at BSS are in official detention and remain under the custodial authority of the BOP.

The Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Kristen Brook, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.