Montgomery County, Texas detains former jail officer and shuts down unlicensed assisted‑living homes

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested former detention officer Miguel Cortez‑Gonzales, 27, on a civil‑rights charge after he allegedly assaulted a 25‑year‑old inmate at the county jail. The inmate suffered minor injuries and received medical treatment. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and emphasized accountability within the sheriff’s office.

Montgomery County District Attorney Mike Holley charged Jeffrey Canlas, 36, with a Class A misdemeanor for operating three unlicensed assisted‑living facilities that lacked required fire‑safety equipment such as sprinklers and alarms. The homes housed bedridden residents, and the county has shut down about ten similar facilities in the past year as part of a crackdown on unsafe, unlicensed care homes.