A former Montgomery County Sheriff's Office detention officer faces a felony charge after assaulting an inmate at the Montgomery County Jail, with Sheriff Wesley Doolittle saying the behavior "will not be accepted" within the agency that serves as primary law enforcement for The Woodlands area.

Miguel Cortez-Gonzales, 27, was arrested Sunday, Aug. 9, and charged with violation of civil rights of a person in custody, a third-degree felony that carries two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine under Texas law, ABC13 reported. His employment with MCSO ended the same day.

The charge stems from a July 24 incident in which Cortez-Gonzales allegedly assaulted a 25-year-old male inmate while working inside the jail. The inmate sustained minor injuries, received medical treatment and is in good health, the sheriff's office said. MCSO declined to identify the victim to protect his privacy.

Cortez-Gonzales had been employed with the sheriff's office for 14 months. An internal investigation began immediately after the July 24 assault, and he was placed on suspension while detectives with the Major Crimes Unit led the criminal probe, according to the MCSO press release.

The investigation culminated in his arrest Sunday, the same day his employment ended.

"The care and safety of every person in our custody is not only a constitutional responsibility, but one I take personally," Doolittle said in a statement announcing the arrest. "No one is above the law. This type of behavior is not tolerated, and it will not be accepted within the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office."

The case is not the first time MCSO has arrested one of its own for misconduct at the jail. In February 2025, the office arrested detention officer Oscar Vasquez, a six-year employee, on a felony charge of improper sexual activity with a person in custody. Vasquez resigned while under investigation.

The investigation into Cortez-Gonzales remains active. No bond amount or next court date has been announced. Anyone with information related to the case can contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit.