Subway manager who trapped 10-year-old girl behind a locked door and said her parents were ‘trash’ will spend less time imprisoned than she did – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Jacksonville, Fla. – A routine stop at a local Subway sandwich shop turned into a frightening ordeal for a family last summer. On July 21, 2025, a 10-year-old girl stepped onto a freshly mopped floor, prompting a drastic reaction from the store manager. What followed was a brief but terrifying confinement that left the child fearing for her safety and sparked a child abuse charge.
The Confrontation Behind the Counter
The manager, James Anthony Morris Jr., 34, had just cleaned part of the floor when the girl accidentally walked across it. Her mother instructed her to apologize, a seemingly simple gesture meant to smooth things over. Instead, Morris grabbed the child and ushered her into a back room, securing the door behind her.
The mother initially believed it was a misguided attempt at discipline. She approached the door, only to have Morris push it shut again, trapping her daughter inside for roughly two minutes. During that time, the girl later recounted to police, she felt extreme fear and worried she was being kidnapped.
Harsh Words and a Mother’s Fight
While locked away, Morris directed angry words at the child, labeling her parents as “trash and terrible people.” The outburst escalated the situation from a mishandled spill into something far more alarming. The mother struggled with Morris at the door until she finally freed her daughter…