Missoula, MT – A former guard at the Montana Women’s Prison has been charged with multiple felony counts, including rape and official misconduct, following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with an inmate. Andre Hunter, 28, pleaded not guilty to all charges in Yellowstone County District Court on Tuesday. The charges stem from an alleged illicit relationship with an inmate, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents.
Hunter, who had worked as a corrections officer at the facility, was released on his own recognizance with no bond after his court appearance. Standing Master Brad Kneeland ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim or any current prison staff or inmates.
The charges against Hunter were filed on April 18, 2025, after an investigation by the Montana Department of Corrections. According to court documents, the alleged victim reported to investigators that she began a romantic relationship with Hunter in late January 2025. The relationship is said to have developed through verbal communication and exchanged notes, with Hunter allegedly supplying the inmate with prohibited items, including a pen and Sharpie.
The woman also claimed that Hunter smuggled contraband into her cell, including candy and doughnuts, and that they communicated through messages sent via Instagram. The messages, which were allegedly sent through the woman’s sister, reportedly included romantic notes from Hunter.
The relationship between the two escalated, with the inmate telling investigators that she had two separate sexual encounters with Hunter. The first incident allegedly occurred on February 11, 2025, when Hunter digitally penetrated the inmate through her cell’s food port. A second encounter is said to have taken place on February 18, when the woman was allegedly lured to a restricted area of the prison called the control hub. There, she was allegedly told by Hunter to engage in sexual activity. The woman claimed that when she refused, Hunter threatened her with disciplinary action for breaking prison rules, and she ultimately agreed.
Prison investigators later obtained video footage showing Hunter standing in front of the woman’s cell on February 11, which supported her claim of the first alleged incident. The second encounter was captured by footage showing the inmate leaving her cell and walking toward the control hub, where Hunter was seen entering the area. While the video did not record any sexual activity, a subsequent sweep of the control hub revealed a substance consistent with semen on the floor, further corroborating the woman’s allegations.
State law prohibits any sexual contact between prison employees and inmates, as inmates are legally incapable of giving consent. This fact is central to the charges against Hunter, which include two counts of rape, one count of releasing contraband, and one count of official misconduct.
In a subsequent interview with a Department of Corrections investigator, Hunter denied all of the allegations. He claimed not to recall communicating with the inmate or providing her with contraband, and he denied any involvement in the alleged sexual acts. When shown the video evidence, Hunter claimed that he did not remember working on the days the footage indicated he had encounters with the inmate. Regarding the semen found in the control hub, Hunter suggested that he had produced it on his own.
The case is being closely watched by the public, raising concerns about the accountability of prison staff and the prevention of sexual misconduct within correctional facilities. Hunter faces severe penalties if convicted, as each of the charges carries significant prison time.
