An Air Force airman’s journey to training took an unexpected turn when a stay at a Marriott hotel led to a $160 million lawsuit. Waking up to a shocking sexual assault by Jermaine Lamont Peay, a notorious career criminal, left the airman seeking justice for the harrowing experience. With dozens of arrests under his belt, Peay’s actions have sparked outrage and legal action against the hotel chain. The clash between military discipline and criminal behavior sets the stage for a legal battle of epic proportions, highlighting the need for accountability and safety in hospitality settings.
Victims of sexual assault have the right to seek legal recourse against perpetrators through civil lawsuits, like the case involving the airman and Marriott.
Seeking compensation for damages incurred due to the assault is a common objective in such cases, aiming to hold the perpetrator and any involved parties accountable.
Marriott is facing severe scrutiny for the lack of security measures that led to the assault. The airman’s lawsuit highlighted the hotel’s negligence in ensuring guest safety.
The incident occurred in April 2022 as the victim, identified as ‘John Doe‘, stayed at the Marriot on West Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to the lawsuit, the man said that when he went to sleep he did not realize that ‘the self-closing an self-locking doors (to his room) was not functioning properly’ and woke up to Jermaine Lamont Peay raping him.
Documents stated that the the room’s door ‘did not properly latch or lock,’ as Peay, a career criminal, broke in.
This is not the first time Peay has been in trouble with the law, as WSOC-TV uncovered six of his mugshots from past arrests.
It is unclear when each mugshot was taken and for what crimes, but records showed that he was previously charged with assaulting a campus police officer and ‘going armed to the terror of people.’
In North Carolina, a charge for going armed to the terror of people means that a suspect is armed with an ‘unusual or dangerous’ weapon with intentions of ‘terrorizing others,’ according to Gilles Law.
Peay was arrested and charged in January 2023 with forced sex offense, larceny, breaking and entering and first-degree burglary.
He is still awaiting trial for those offenses, according to court records.
As Peay assaulted the man, the victim ‘howled in terror and lashed out’ at him before Peay allegedly snatched his phone, wallet, a pair of shorts and a shirt, and ran off, the suit said.
According to a 911 call log obtained by WSOC-TV, police were called to that Marriott location 85 times in the past three years.
The lawsuit argued that the hotel should have been aware that the locks on the man’s door were not secure and that the establishment failed to provide sufficient security for the guest.
Guests deserve to feel safe and protected during their stay at any hotel they choose. It is crucial for hotels to not only meet but exceed industry standards when it comes to ensuring guest safety. By prioritizing security measures, training staff effectively, and responding promptly to any security concerns, hotels can create a welcoming environment where guests can feel secure throughout their stay—and not have sexual assault lawsuits flying all over the roof.
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