Nurse accused of sexually assaulting sedated patients gets bond

Michael Morgan is escorted into a Fulton County courtroom on Friday, May 26.

Michael Morgan is escorted into a Fulton County courtroom on Friday, May 26.

Former Sandy Springs nurse Michael Morgan sat in a Fulton County jail for two weeks after he turned himself in and admitted to injecting a patient with Propofol so he could fondle her while she was sedated.

On Friday, Morgan waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the charges of sexual assault and sexual battery, but was granted a $40,000 bond by a Fulton County judge.

A quiet and straight-faced Morgan appeared in the Fulton County Superior Court on Friday, hopeful that he would be released from the blue jail jumpsuit and shackles he was wearing.

Brent Beaver, his attorney, pleaded with a judge for a bond to be granted to his client. While the state’s attorney argued against it, the judge granted Morgan the bond and ignored the state’s request that Morgan wear an ankle bracelet monitor.

The judge did rule that Morgan, 33 of Adairsville, not have contact with the victims named in the warrant, that he not possess any weapons, that he not practice nursing, that he stay in his home between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and that he not leave the state of Georgia while out on bond.

An attorney for the state argued that Morgan shouldn’t receive bond because of the nature of the charges and an ongoing investigation.

In his argument, Beaver told the judge that Morgan had been a nurse for eight years, was married, had never been arrested before and that he was a lifelong resident of Georgia and owns property in the state. Beaver, who works for the Perrotta and Cahn firm in Cartersville, also said that Morgan is an active member of his church, that he was not a threat to leave the state and that he had cooperated with police in their investigation.

That was convincing enough, apparently.

An arrest warrant says that Morgan admitted to injecting one patient with Propofol — a powerful sedative — to keep her sedated longer so he could fondle her at the Northern Crescent Endoscopy Center in Sandy Springs. A police report says that at least two women were assaulted by Morgan while they were sedated and under his care as a nurse.

Police say that it was two of Morgan’s pastors from a Jehovah’s Witness Hall who alerted police after he confided in them.

Beaver, another attorney and Morgan’s family did not want to provide comment to Channel 2 Action News and the AJC on Friday morning.

As Morgan exited, he looked at his family who was sitting two rows back from the partition in the courtroom. Court documents do not list when the next trial date is for Morgan.

On Thursday, Aaron O’Brien — an attorney for one of the victims — issued a statement, saying, “The time for our community to rally behind the victims will come soon. But for now, please let the victims process this awful trauma.”

Like North Fulton County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter and Instagram

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED...