Derrick Fujikawa, father of 18-year-old professional golfer Tadd Fujikawa, pleaded guilty yesterday in Circuit Court to two counts of second-degree methamphetamine trafficking.

He faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced April 6, although Judge Steven Alm told Fujikawa, 45, that he would be inclined to impose a sentence at the "low end" of the mandatory one- to four-year minimum sentence because Fujikawa had admitted his wrongdoing and because he had no prior convictions.

Alm emphasized that the Hawaii Paroling Authority will determine Fujikawa's actual prison time, which could be anywhere from one to 10 years.

Fujikawa told Alm he understood the charges against him, knew he was giving up his right to a trial and that he had received no promises or assurances regarding his sentence.

Tadd Fujikawa, sitting next to his mother, Lori Fujikawa, sat silently through his dad's change of plea hearing, watching attentively and occasionally casting his eyes down. Tadd Fujikawa became a celebrity two years ago when, at age 16, he became the youngest person to make a PGA Tour cut in 50 years. He has since turned professional.

PLEA DEAL

The elder Fujikawa was indicted July 31, 2007, by an O'ahu grand jury for distributing one-eighth of an ounce or more of meth to an undercover officer on two occasions. He had pleaded not guilty to two Class A felony counts of drug trafficking, on each of which he would have faced up to 20 years in prison.

Following the brief hearing, Fujikawa, his wife and son departed the courthouse without comment. The attorneys involved in the case gave brief statements.

"Mr. Fujikawa pled guilty to meth trafficking in the second degree," said deputy prosecutor Peter Marrack. "Methamphetamine has been a terrible scourge for our community and Mr. Fujikawa took responsibility for what he did. We reached a plea agreement, (and) he will be going to prison for 10 years for what he did."

Marrack would not discuss the details of the case, which he said are not part of the public record. However, he did say the prosecution decided to reduce the charges against Fujikawa from first- to second-degree drug trafficking.

"Based on what the defendant did, we decided the agreement was appropriate," he said.

Victor Bakke, Fujikawa's attorney, said the defense initially considered taking the case to trial, but later hoped to reach a plea bargain in which the defense could ask for probation and leave the decision up to the judge.

Although the prosecutor's office rejected that deal, Bakke said both sides eventually agreed to amending the charges to Class B felonies, which carry a maximum 10-year sentence and a one- to four-year mandatory minimum.

CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHT

Tadd Fujikawa's high visibility turned what otherwise would be a low-key case into a media event, Bakke said. The young golf pro's fame made a difficult time for the family all the more tense.

"Every time we show up in court, his son's name comes up and the history comes up," Bakke said. "So we're just trying to get this behind us.

Bakke said the elder Fujikawa, who spent several months at a rehabilitation clinic in Newport Beach, Calif., is now ready to move forward with his life.

"He's clean, he's sober, he's got his life together," Bakke said. "There's been enough time that's gone by. He's on a good path right now. But, we understand we have to deal with what happened."

In a recent Associated Press interview, Fujikawa said he never used drugs around his only son or other family members, but that his $200-a-day habit led him to voluntarily check into the rehab clinic. The hardest part of the entire ordeal, he said, has been the untrue rumor that he sold drugs as a way to further his son's career.

Bakke said the defense tried unsuccessfully to have the charges reduced to possession only, since Fujikawa never sold meth to the undercover officers. Fujikawa merely used undercover money to acquire drugs to split the take to feed his own habit, Bakke said.

News of Fujikawa's indictment stunned a community that had grown used to accounts of his son's rise to glory. Standing 5-foot-1 and weighing 110 pounds, Tadd Fujikawa's ever-smiling, humble personality has become an inspiration to young and old alike.

Derrick Fujikawa remains free on $50,000 bail. He will most likely begin his incarceration at the time he is sentenced, which Judge Alm set for April 6.