Former Prison Officer, Steve Morton (right) chose to enter guilty pleas when four charges were laid against him by the Crown in his appearance before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, February 7, 2014. Photo: VINO

Morton was also made to compensate his girlfriend whom he had assaulted in front of her children and whose car he had damaged. All told, he was instructed to pay over $18,000 in fines and compensation. 

The defendant pleaded guilty to breach of trust by a public official; abuse of trust for financial gain; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and damage to property when he appeared before the court on February 7, 2014. 

On the prison related charges, Morton was fined $5000 to be paid within five months or serve a term of three years in prison for the offence of breach of trust; and fined $3000 to be paid within three months or serve a term of three years in prison for the offence of abuse of trust. 

Further, he was fined $500 to be paid within 60 days or serve 12 months in prison for the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and ordered to compensate his girlfriend $2000 within 30 days or serve a term of 18 months in prison in relation to the assault. 

For damaging the Virtual Complainant’s car, Morton was fined $5,500 to be paid within 60 days or serve 18 months in prison; and instructed to compensate the VC in the sum of $2,495 within 30 days or spend 18 months in prison in relation to the damage. 

See previous story posted February 8, 2014:

Fmr Prison Officer beat gf in front of children – Court hears

- confesses to receiving $70 for smuggling mobile phone into prison for James Telesford John

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Former Prison Officer, Steve Morton, 38, chose to enter guilty pleas when four charges were laid against him by the Crown in his appearance before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, February 7, 2014.

In the first instance, Morton, who was unrepresented during his appearance, pleaded guilty to the offence of breach of trust by a public official and abuse of office for financial gains of $70. He previously pleaded not guilty to the offences.  

According to the allegations, Morton while on duty at HMP as a prison officer, allegedly approached a remanded prisoner and made arrangements to get a mobile phone into the prison for a cost of $60.

It was further alleged that the remanded prisoner gave contact details through a source and the accused subsequently had a conversation with the source whereby arrangements were made. The accused later met the person who handed over a black mobile phone and $70.

The accused allegedly returned to prison and handed the device to the prisoner (James Telesford John) who hid the cellphone in the mattress in his prison cell. On September 10, 2012 prison officers were making regular searches and checks when an Officer discovered the hidden object in the prisoner’s mattress.

On October 31, 2012 the accused was arrested and a video interview was later conducted during which he offered no comment. He was later charged in the matter.

Morton beat police girlfriend in front of her children

In the second instance, the former Prison Officer confessed to beating his former girlfriend and damaging her car. He pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage. The offences allegedly occurred on September 6, 2013 at Valley, Virgin Gorda.

According to the allegations, the Virtual Complainant (VC), an Auxiliary Officer with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force resided together with Morton at the Valley and the two share one child together.  

On the day in question the defendant left home at around 7AM using her car and received a call around 10AM from the VC telling him that the relationship was over.  

When he came home she was packing his clothing. He went to the living room area and when he came back to the bedroom, he was on the bed on the phone.  

He grabbed the phone from her but it was locked so he began hitting her about the face with the phone in a rage. She begged him to stop but he did not and her other children came into the room asking him to stop as well.

Morton reportedly went for a baton in the chest of drawers and the VC screamed and he dropped it and he went outside. The allegations further stated that she called the Virgin Gorda Police Station.  

She saw him walk towards the car and he got in and reversed it, driving it into some boulders and left. Officers responded and the VC was taken to the Iris O’Neal clinic where she was treated for swelling and bruising to the forehead, right hand and left wrist.

The prosecutor alleged that the damage to the VC’s car amounted to $1025 while the iPhone 4S which was damaged cost $660.

Magistrate Dr Velon John said the defendant was facing some serious charges and although Morton requested that a ruling be given on the same day, John requested some time to think about the matters so he could “dispose of the matter in a manner that was consonant with the principles of justice”.

Morton will return to court on February 11, 2014 for sentencing.