Brad Kitsu, former athletic director at the Academy of the Pacific, received his second deferred criminal penalty in four years yesterday as dozens of friends, family members and former students appeared in court to support him.

Kitsu was suspended from his job at Academy of the Pacific, a 150-student middle and high school in Liliha, after he was charged with felony possession of a pound and a half of marijuana in April 2007.

He pleaded guilty to reduced drug charges and Circuit Judge Richard Pollack yesterday granted Kitsu a "conditional discharge" of the case if he stays out of legal trouble for the next five years.

In 2004, Kitsu was charged with second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and third-degree assault of another man following an altercation at a downtown Honolulu nightclub.

He later entered a deferred plea of guilty to two counts of third-degree assault.

Kitsu stayed out of trouble for a year in that case and the charges were removed from his record in August 2005.

Last year, drug agents tracked a package of marijuana mailed from the Mainland to Kitsu's Nu'uanu apartment, arresting him and former University of Hawai'i football player Wayne Roe Jr. on felony drug promotion charges. Kitsu was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after agents found two marijuana pipes in the apartment.

Roe later took responsibility for the shipment of marijuana, which had been mailed by a Roe acquaintance to Kitsu's apartment.

Defense lawyer Todd Eddins yesterday told Pollack that Kitsu "has devoted his life to helping others," noting that the court room was filled with friends, family members and other supporters.

Eddins said Kitsu was devastated by publicity about his arrest last year and wanted to move on with his life without the stigma of a drug conviction on his record.

Kitsu told Pollack, "For the last 14 years, I dedicated my life to bettering the community and being a positive influence on other people's lives."

He apologized to his parents, family, friends and students.

"I take responsibility for making mistakes. I stand before you humbly asking for lenience," Kitsu said.

Pollack said he had received dozens of letters of support written on behalf of the defendant.

"He's been a positive influence on the community," Pollack said.

"Mr. Kitsu has made a mistake. I think he has acknowledged his mistake," Pollack said.

He placed Kitsu under court supervision for five years and ordered him to complete 150 hours of community service.

Mollie Sperry, head of the Academy of the Pacific, said yesterday that Kitsu was suspended from his job last year and this year he "was not offered an annual contract."

Sperry wrote a letter to Pollack on Kitsu's behalf, saying the defendant "exemplified the highest character," according to Eddins.

Sperry said after court that "there is no position available this year" for Kitsu at the school.