Convicted murderer Bradley "Hurtie" Maxwell was re-sentenced Friday for second-degree murder and escape from custody. Territorial Court Judge Brenda J. Hollar sentenced him to 30 years in connection with the death of bar owner John Alfred Adams and five years for escaping from the Sub Base prison annex in 1998.
The Friday sentencing became necessary when a U.S. District Court three-judge appellate panel voided a sentence imposed earlier. The panel ruled that then-Assistant Attorney General Gary Allizeo failed to ask the court in October 1998 to sentence Maxwell to 20 years for the murder conviction, plus five years to run concurrently on the escape from custody charge. Those sentences were part of a plea bargain struck by Maxwell's attorneys and government prosecutors.
Instead of recommending the agreed-to sentence, Allizeo said during the sentencing hearing that Maxwell had a troubled childhood and had developed into a heinous criminal. Allizeo appealed to the court to protect the community from Maxwell by punishing him for the death of Adams in September 1997 and his escape in June 1998. In court Friday, Hollar sentenced Maxwell after hearing a long oration from defense attorney Frederick Watts who spoke of Maxwell's violent tendencies. "I would not like to meet Mr. Maxwell on the road if he did not know who I am," Watts said as the handcuffed Maxwell sat silent at the defense table. Watts said Maxwell does not fit the description of a person to be paroled.
In brief comments to the court, Maxwell apologized for what he did, saying, "No one can turn back what I've done." The government, represented by Assistant Attorney General Guy Mitchell, urged the court to impose the previously agreed-to sentence; Hollar added 10 years on the murder conviction and sent Maxwell to jail for 35 years.
Maxwell, who was under heavy guard Friday with up to six Territorial Court marshals and prison guards strategically placed around the courtroom, is awaiting court action on another escape from custody charge. In July, he reportedly hacksawed his way out of his cell and literally walked out of the Golden Grove Correctional Facility. It was later learned the compound was left open when a prison guard left the jail with the prison's keys.
Maxwell was returned to St. Thomas on Friday morning for the re-sentencing and was expected to be flown back to St. Croix before sundown.
