Editor’s note: Some details of this story deal with sexual assault and will be upsetting to many. Reader discretion is strongly advised. The trial of a corrections officer charged with multiple counts of sexually assaulting inmates at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., began this week with testimony from one of the victims. Derek Morgan, now 41, turned himself in on Oct. 9, 2025, and was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and breach of trust. The ongoing investigation led to more charges involving more victims in February 2026. All the victims were female inmates at the remand centre. None of the victims in the case can be identified due to a publication ban. One victim testified via video Oct. 13 that the first time she saw Morgan was in May 2025 when she was in her cell. Under questioning from assistant Crown Jennifer Stanton, the woman said Morgan made an obscene gesture with his hands and mouth, indicating to her that he wanted fellatio. “Yes, he did — when he walked by my cell during lockup,” the woman said. “He was facing my cell … It happened on multiple times ... Many times I told him to f—k off.” She said she knew Morgan as a “court person,” the one who would bring inmates to a room for their court hearings or to the phone to speak with their lawyers. “That’s the role I seen him in,” she said. “He works all over the jail.” On multiple occasions, she said he would make disparaging remarks about the woman in the cell block when it was time for lock up, or when he was interacting with inmates. “Lock up, you animals, get in your cages,” she said she heard Morgan say into the intercom. Made disparaging remarks to inmates “He called one of my friends a pig,” she said, adding that he made “oink oink” sounds and called the inmates “donkeys.” “He was talking down to us ... He was a creep.” Stanton asked the woman to describe daily life in the remand centre. The woman said there are eight cells in a block, with the “range” — the hallway outside the cells — running along each. At one end of the range is the “bubble” where jail staff are located. At the other end is the recreation room where inmates are allowed for certain times of each day. There is one person per cell, unless it is crowded and two people must share a cell. There is a window on each of the doors to the cells, and a window beside the door, so jail staff can see inside. Each cell has a bed, a desk and stool, as well as a light controlled by staff. Inmates are not allowed to cover the windows. Only new inmates and “stubborn” ones cover the windows, the woman said, which are cleared by staff when they notice the violation. Their day begins at 8 a.m., when inmates are allowed into the range for breakfast. Yard time is from 9-10 a.m. A few days a week, they get recreation time — use the gym, work out, play basketball. Lunch is held on the range around 11:45 a.m. Free time follows until 1 p.m., when they are locked on the range, but not in their cells. Daily routine inside the centre One guard does a head count once an hour to make sure everyone is OK and accounted for. Quiet time is from 2-4 p.m., until the 4 p.m. dinner time. Supper lasts 45 minutes and then they have free time until 6 to 7 p.m., when they are locked in their cells. The woman said she assumes this is to accommodate the shift change among staff. From 7-9 p.m., they are on the range and they can shower if they want by asking the guards to turn on the shower, located in the bathroom. “We get locked in our cells at 9,” she said. They can read in their beds. The guards will turn off their lights when they see they have fallen asleep in their cells during a check. They are locked in their cells until breakfast at 8 a.m. and the day repeats itself. The woman testified that inmates at the jail can earn privileges by doing chores such as cleaning particularly dirty cells. Misbehaviour can lead to the loss of privileges, she added. People on minimum security blocks get more privileges, while people on maximum security blocks get fewer. She was in a medium security block at the time of the assault. She said the uniform they wore included green track pants, a green shirt and a green sweatshirt. Pajamas were a lighter green. Some people would request a purple version of the uniform. “Some inmates wear their pajamas all day long,” she said, adding that you had to wear your uniform to leave the range. The three-week trial resumes at 10 a.m. Wednesday. There is help for victims of sexual assault in Algoma from Victim Services Algoma. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
