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District Attorney: Woman will be deported after her sentence

Recently, Kerry-Ann Morgan, 42, of Jamaica, pled guilty to charges related to the assault of a local police officer nearly one year ago, according to the Covington County District Attorney’s Office.

The assault took place in July 2023 and Morgan has remained in the Covington County Jail since that time.

According to District Attorney Walt Merrell, Morgan was in the U.S. on an expired visa and that she will be deported after serving the sentence.

“Ms. Morgan was in Andalusia with an expired U.S. visa.  While she might have been deported without ever answering for these charges, that was not something I was going to allow to happen. These officers deal with enough hardship.  As a society, we cannot tolerate this type of behavior against the people who work so very hard to keep us all safe. It was important to me that she have to answer for her crimes, despite any immigration issues,” Merrell said.

The district attorney noted that Morgan’s plea came on the eve of National Police Week — a week set aside each year to recognize the contributions of police forces, and to remember fallen officers. 

“We are blessed to have some of the finest law enforcement around,” Merrell said. “They work hard to solve crimes, put the right people in jail and also exonerate the innocent, and generally keep us all safe from the criminal element. I never want to live in a community where people are allowed to disparage and attack the police without recourse or consequence. When we become accepting of conduct like Ms. Morgan’s, we make law enforcement’s hard jobs that much harder, and that I will not stand for.”

Morgan will serve out the balance of her sentence before being deported. Merrell said he does not know how long that process will take.   

“Our office has already talked with immigration, and they are going to initiate the deportation process,” he said. 

Merrell also expressed his appreciation to the officer for the willing sacrifice he made in the line of duty. 

“This officer has fully recovered from the assault, and we are thankful for his recovery. This is what uncommon valor looks like. He is to be commended,” Merrell said.

“Too many in politics today want to play with officers’ well-being by using them as pawns in some woke game. Riots, protests, and just a general disrespect of the law has become the norm. But enough is enough … and not here — or at least not from our office.  Police Officers are not the punching bags for society.”