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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

More cases involving Chattanooga migrant shelter moved to grand jury

Staff photo by Troy Stolt / The Old Tennessee Temple University dorm building in Highland Park is seen on Monday, April 12, 2021, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Staff photo by Troy Stolt / The Old Tennessee Temple University dorm building in Highland Park is seen on Monday, April 12, 2021, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Staff photo by Troy Stolt / The Old Tennessee Temple University dorm building in Highland Park is seen on Monday, April 12, 2021, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The three defendants connected to the Chattanooga shelter for unaccompanied migrant children were in court Tuesday morning with more cases moving onto a grand jury.

In January, Florencia Morales’s case charging alleged sexual contact by authority figure was bound for a grand jury. On Tuesday, before Judge Alex McVeagh, her other case of sexual battery by authority figure was bound for a grand jury as well.

Randi Duarte, who faces counts of alleged coercion of a witness, tampering with evidence and sexual battery by an authority figure, also had her case sent to a grand jury.

Rebeka Perez, who faces a count of alleged sexual contact by an authority figure, appeared Tuesday to have her next court date scheduled for May 17.

(READ MORE: Tennessee’s special refugee committee recommends more regulation, oversight of migrants)