A relatively new statewide law is responsible for putting a Brewton man behind bars this week.
Mackla Lewis Lane was arrested by Brewton Police this week on charges of failure to register legal residence.
Lane is listed as a sex offender after being convicted in 1997 of second-degree rape involving a 14-year-old girl.
Sgt. Steven Ferguson said Lane had previously complied with the residence registration requirement but under a new state order was required to register more frequently than previously order.
“The state had put a new rule into effect that required these kinds of offenders to register their residential situation every three months instead of just once a year,” Ferguson said. “When Lane’s time came to register, we were asked to notify him about the updated requirement,” Ferguson said. “When we went to the residence where he was supposed to be we found the house empty and no water or electricity on at that location. At that time, he was in violation since he wasn’t living where he was registered.”
Ferguson said officers had been searching for Lane but had been unsuccessful until this week.
“Our dispatcher received a call of a domestic disturbance in East Brewton at the Daulphin Trailer Park,” Ferguson said. “The information we received was that Mr. Lane just happened to be the violator.”
Ferguson said when officers arrived to investigate the disturbance and take Lane into custody, the suspect ran from the scene.
“He didn’t get very far before we were able to apprehend him,” Ferguson said. “We were able to take him into custody without incident.”
Lane was taken to the Escambia County Detention Center where he was booked on the charges. He was released Thursday on a $5,000 bond.