A high school teacher who was charged in a recent spate of drug cases involving public school teachers was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison.

After his arrest in October, Lee N. Anzai, 30, a special-education teacher at Leilehua High School, "provided substantial assistance" in the prosecution of another drug dealer, according to prosecutors.

That led to a reduced sentence from U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright, who noted yesterday that Anzai's position as a teacher in a drug case raised community concerns about "safety in education."

Since October, at least four public school teachers have been arrested on drug-related charges.

Partially in response to those cases, the state asked for, and won, the right to randomly drug test teachers in the latest labor contract with the Hawai'i State Teachers Association.

Anzai could have been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $4 million fine.

A former standout baseball player at Kaiser High School and Hawai'i Pacific University, Anzai was able to lead "a successful double life" for years, Seabright said.

More than 50 relatives and supporters attended the hearing, including Anzai's wife, Sherri, mother of their 1-year-old son.

His lawyer, Howard Luke, said Anzai underwent a "religious epiphany" after his arrest and has made "an amazing transformation" in his life.

PLEA DEAL REACHED

In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Anzai admitted supplying an undercover drug agent with 50 or more grams of crystal methamphetamine last year. He was originally charged with selling nearly a pound of the drug, worth $44,500, but the U.S. attorney's office dropped additional counts against him in return for his guilty plea and cooperation in another case.

Anzai was not charged with selling drugs on school premises, but prosecutors alleged that during one tape-recorded telephone conversation Anzai indicated he possessed drugs while on school property.

Anzai told drug agents he began using ice, the common street name for crystal methamphetamine, when he was in high school. Attorney Luke said Anzai later sold drugs to support his addiction.

'IT'S LIKE A BLESSING'

Anzai apologized to the court, the community and family and friends.

"This whole ordeal, it's like a blessing to me," Anzai told the judge.

Since his arrest, Anzai said, he has successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program, which "has allowed me to see life more clearly."

Two months after Anzai pleaded guilty to a single count of selling crystal methamphetamine, two Mililani Middle School teachers were arrested for allegedly smoking marijuana before they showed up to work, a petty misdemeanor.

And in February, a Ka'elepulu Elementary School teacher was charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs.

None of the cases involved students.

RANDOM TESTING

There were proposals during the recent session of the Legislature to mandate random drug testing for teachers. None survived.

But during recent contract negotiations between the HSTA and the state, Gov. Linda Lingle demanded that a random drug testing provision be part of the contract.

It was included, and the contract was approved by a vote of 61.3 percent to 38.2 percent among the state's 13,500 public school teachers.

The provision may be challenged in court.

Reach Jim Dooley at jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com.