CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — It took the seven-member jury nearly seven hours — three hours Thursday night and four hours Friday morning — to find a Marine accused of possessing, distributing and conspiring to sell cocaine, marijuana and Ecstasy guilty on multiple specifications in the two charges he faced.
After another hour or more deliberating, the jury sentenced Marine Cpl. Byron Lewis, 21, of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group to reduction to private, forfeiture of $1,235 a month for eight years, a dishonorable discharge and eight years confinement. Prosecutors had asked for at least 12 years in the brig.
Lewis was found guilty on five of 11 specifications: conspiring to distribute cocaine, marijuana and Ecstasy with two fellow Marines; two specifications of distributing Ecstasy to two different Marines; one specification of distributing cocaine to a fellow Marine; and wrongful possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine and Ecstasy.
Before sentencing, the prosecution and defense called witnesses to the stand.
The prosecution kicked things off with a recording of Lewis pleading guilty to wrongful use of marijuana, which he did at a preliminary hearing Tuesday. A U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa pharmacist was then called to testify about the drugs Lewis was found guilty of distributing and possessing and the dangers the drugs present.
The defense used its turn to first call a character witness, Sgt. Horace Buice, also of III MHG, whom Lewis worked for. Buice said Lewis had “great performance” and “great attitude” toward his cook duties in the mess hall. Buice also said that because of the way Lewis “carried himself at work … I would never assume that would be the lifestyle he chose.”
The next testimony was the most emotional for Lewis. The defense counsel phoned his mother, Marie Lewis, in Longs, S.C. During her statements, Lewis appeared to wipe tears off his cheeks several times.
“I’m shocked about the fact that Byron is involved in something like that … and I’m disappointed,” she said. “I know he knows better, I brought him up better than that.”
Marie Lewis went on to say that her son had never been in any kind of trouble and that he was a good student and brother.
“I’m truly disappointed,” said his mother, who raised her four children by herself. “I taught them that right is right, and wrong is wrong — that trouble is easy to get into, but hard to get out of. I just want to know why he did what he did.”
Byron Lewis then spoke to the jury. He thanked them for a fair trial and apologized.
“I know the decisions I made weren’t right,” he said, pausing to collect himself as he began crying. “I just wish I could take back so many things.”
Lewis went on to say the biggest punishment he faced was disappointing his family and community.
