A policeman has lost his job and his freedom for helping a drug convict escape. Sergeant Troy Lewis was yesterday sentenced to six months in prison for helping Melvin Maycock Sr. escape from the lock-up of the Elizabeth Estates Police Station on February 27, 2008. Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis accepted the prosecution's contention that the escape was effected when Lewis let Maycock Sr. go and replaced him with his son, Melvin Maycock Jr., who was also sentenced to six months in prison.

However, Maycock Jr. only has two months remaining on that sentence as he was remanded into custody for four months before he was freed on bail. As for Maycock Sr., he has already served his eight month sentence while on remand awaiting trial. Maycock Sr. is currently serving a three year sentence for drug trafficking and possession of unlicensed firearms. Two years will be added to the sentence, if he fails to pay a $250,000 fine before the prison term expires.

An arrest warrant was issued for Maycock Sr. in June 2004 when U.S. prosecutors requested his extradition to Florida for his alleged leadership role in a multinational drug gang. Maycock remained at large until his arrest in February on suspicion of drug trafficking. After his escape, police issued an all points bulletin for him after they uncovered a stash house on Marine Drive and Bougainvillea Avenue on May 17, 2008. Police found three unlicensed handguns and 1,203 pounds of marijuana inside.

A fingerprint examiner found an impression from Maycock's right index finger on a vacuum sealing machine. Maycock was not arrested until June 20, 2008. Before passing sentence, Rolle-Davis dismissed an argument from Ian Cargill that the court lacked jurisdiction in the matter. Cargill contended that Maycock Sr. faced a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the escape because he could receive a life term if convicted on the charges listed on the indictment in the United States.

Since the court's sentencing jurisdiction was only five years, Cargill argued that the magistrate should have held a preliminary inquiry instead of conducting a trial. Lawyers Roger Gomez Jr., for Maycock Sr., and Tonique Lewis, for Lewis, adopted those submissions. However, prosecuting lawyer Anthony Delaney said the argument lacked substance. He said the court had accepted that Maycock Sr. escaped from lawful custody, an offense which carried a sentence of two years.

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