A Florida man has been sentenced to two days in jail after pleading guilty to child abuse for an incident at a Subway restaurant in Jacksonville. James Anthony Morris Jr., 34, was charged with false imprisonment after he locked a 10-year-old girl in a room at the restaurant in July 2025.
The Incident
The incident took place when the girl’s mother and her daughter entered the Subway restaurant. After the child accidentally walked on an area of the floor that had just been cleaned, the mother instructed her daughter to apologize to Morris, who was the restaurant’s manager. According to the police report, Morris grabbed the girl and locked her in a back room of the restaurant.
The mother initially thought Morris was joking, but when she went to the door to retrieve her daughter, Morris reportedly pushed the door closed, keeping the girl locked inside. During this time, the girl was allegedly scared and felt like she was being kidnapped, and Morris reportedly ranted at the child, insulting her parents.
After about two minutes, the mother managed to get the door open and free her daughter, subsequently calling the police. Morris refused to speak with law enforcement officers when they arrived at the scene, and he was arrested at the Subway restaurant.
Sentencing and Plea Agreement
On April 30, Morris pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse. As part of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to two days in jail, but he received credit for time served, meaning no additional jail time. Morris was also sentenced to three years of probation, and he was ordered to stay away from the victim and her mother.
In addition, Morris was directed to undergo a mental evaluation and a substance abuse evaluation, and he was required to pay $769 in court fees.
Public Reaction and Outcome
While the sentencing avoids prison time, the case has drawn attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the apparent lack of significant jail time for an act of child abuse. Morris’s actions, including his confinement of the child and verbal abuse, were seen as both frightening and harmful to the young victim.
The incident highlights concerns about workplace behavior and the safety of children in public spaces, especially in settings like restaurants where customers and their families expect to feel secure.
