"There will be some measure of safety provided to the community," 2nd Circuit Judge Richard Bissen said as he ordered the prison term for Toby Yuen.

The 50-year-old Kaunakakai resident had pleaded no contest to multiple sexual assault charges in two criminal cases. The sexual assaults occurred from February 2002 until they were reported in September 2006, according to indictments.

The victims were from different families, with the sexual assaults occurring repeatedly over a period of months in some cases, said Deputy Prosecutor Jerrie Sheppard.

In exchange for Yuen's pleas, the prosecution reduced a charge of continual sexual assault of a minor to second-degree sexual assault, which carries a 10-year prison term.

Yuen pleaded no contest to the reduced charge as well as another count of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree sexual assault, five counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and promoting pornography to a minor.

Yuen has already registered as a sex offender, said defense attorney Philip Lowenthal.

"He's prepared to accept the sentence, get the treatment and hopefully after that he'll be able to return to the community," Lowenthal said. "He doesn't want people to be afraid of him."

While Lowenthal referred to Yuen's "severe deficits" related to an automobile crash when he was a child, Bissen said Yuen had been working as a heavy equipment operator and raised four children.

"There's no excuse," the judge told Yuen. "You prey upon young children."