A Mississippi Air Force major stranded overnight in Uptown Charlotte says he woke up to a stranger sexually assaulting him in his hotel bed, then fought the man off before he fled with his wallet, shirt and pants. Now that major is suing the Charlotte Marriott City Center for $160 million, alleging the hotel's faulty door and inadequate security let his attacker walk right in.
Flight Cancellations Led Him to the Marriott
According to the lawsuit, as reported by wbtv.com, the man was traveling from Mississippi to Orlando for training when his flights were canceled in April 2022, stranding him in Charlotte. After some flight cancellations, he used loyalty points and booked a room at the Marriott, the lawsuit states. Separate reporting from View from the Wing describes the man as a Marriott Titanium member with more than 20 years of military service who chose the hotel out of loyalty and trust that it would keep him safe. He had reportedly planned to attend a father-daughter dance at his church, and the Air Force ultimately excused him from training and allowed him to go home following the alleged attack.
The lawsuit alleges the self-closing, self-locking door to his room did not properly latch shut or lock, per the same account. He told hotel staff he woke up to an assailant sexually assaulting him without his consent, and the complaint says he lashed out to punch the suspect, identified as Jermaine Peay, and throw him off. Peay then ran away and stole the man's wallet, a pair of pants and a shirt, according to the lawsuit.
Disputed Account of What Happened Before Police Arrived
View from the Wing's account adds further detail not found in the WBTV report: that the major called the hotel front desk after the assault, and that a hotel security officer advised him to shower before police arrived, reportedly citing concern about HIV exposure — guidance that runs contrary to CDC guidance, which does not recognize showering as HIV prevention, and that can also remove evidence. That outlet also reports a front-desk employee telling the guest “we know who he is,” and says police who responded afterward recognized that the room door would not latch properly. These specific details have not been independently verified beyond the original report and are presented here with that attribution.
The lawsuit reportedly claims the intruder entered through the parking garage and went up several floors without being stopped, despite having no guest status or key card, and that the defendants knew Peay had trespassed before the assault and did not notify police, according to the complaint as described by View from the Wing. The same complaint reportedly cites a door with electronic sensors recording whether it was open or closed, and alleges the Charlotte Marriott City Center received 85 police responses to calls between July 2017 and July 2022, including 29 involving theft or trespass and 15 involving assaults, among them sexual assaults.
Guilty Plea, Sentence and a Dismissed Co-Defendant
Peay pleaded guilty in 2025 to first-degree burglary and sexual battery, and was sentenced to 38 to 58 months in prison with an order to register as a sex offender for 30 years, per the reporting from View from the Wing. The lawsuit against the hotel reportedly includes claims of negligent security, deceptive door advertising, and violation of city operable-lock requirements. Court records cited in that report also indicate a parking management company named in the case was dismissed Monday with an apparent settlement.
The man's wife is also named as a plaintiff, reportedly suing over damage to their marital relationship. Together, the suit reportedly demands $160 million in total damages, broken down as $40 million in compensatory damages and $120 million in punitive damages. John Doe, as the plaintiff is identified in court filings, originally filed the $160 million lawsuit against Marriott in March 2024, a date that aligns with the earlier WBTV coverage of the case.
A former hotel employee has also entered the picture. According to View from the Wing, that employee sued in September 2024 over her firing, alleging she had sought help removing the intruder but that management and security were unavailable at the time, and separately alleging she was fired the day the guest's lawsuit became public, in part to discredit her as a potential witness. None of these additional claims about hotel staff, security protocols, or the former employee's firing have been independently verified beyond that single report.
Marriott's position on the lawsuit has not been made public; prior reporting from wect.com indicates the company had been contacted for comment but had not responded. The case remains pending, and no current docket details or disposition beyond the dismissal of the parking company have been confirmed.
