A driver on the "Lost" television series was sentenced yesterday to five years of probation after he pleaded guilty to drug possession and soliciting sex from an undercover police officer.

Deputy prosecutor Katrina Ordonio asked that Reynold Kamekona, 52, also serve at least three months in jail, saying he has a drug problem that needs to be addressed.

She cited a letter written to the court by Kamekona's fellow Teamsters union movie driver Joseph "Joe Boy" Tavares Jr., who said Kamekona is a drug addict who should not hold a commercial driver's license.

Ordonio said she didn't know who Tavares is, but Kamekona's lawyer, Michael Green, told Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario that Tavares wrote the letter as "payback" because Kame-kona testified against Tavares in a federal arson case.

Green said Tavares spent "many years" in prison after he was convicted of burning trucks and other vehicles used in film and television productions here.

Tavares is on federal parole and earlier this year was working as a Teamster driver on a Nicholas Cage film in Louisiana.

Green acknowledged that Kamekona has a drug problem but said "he doesn't do drugs" while he's working.

"There's no question he needs drug intervention," Green said.

Kamekona will seek treatment for his drug problem but needs to keep his job as a driver because he is the sole supporter of his elderly mother, Green said.

Kamekona works six days a week on the "Lost" show, which is in in its final season of production, Green said, and has been offered a job on the "Pirates of the Car-ibbean" film sequel to be shot here in 30 days.

Kamekona was arrested the evening of Oct. 21 on Kukui Street after he offered to pay the undercover female officer $50 for oral sex, according to police reports. A plastic bag of crystal methamphetamine — commonly known as ice — was found in his pocket, police said.

He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor solicitation charge and to a felony count of possession of a dangerous drug.

Kamekona has previous felony convictions for auto theft and criminal property damage.

Del Rosario told Kamekona that "ice is a terrible drug that does terrible things" to its users.

"I shouldn't have to be talking to you like this," the judge said, noting that he and Kamekona are the same age.

Kamekona declined to speak on his own behalf and wept quietly when the judge did not send him to jail.