A Big Island man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for commercial promotion of marijuana after police caught him with more than eight pounds of pot last August.

Police determined that Sequoia Heuer, 24, was responsible with his father Mark Heuer, 49, for a large-scale indoor growing operation involving more than 800 marijuana plants in Puna.

Sequoia Heuer had no significant criminal record record before the marijuana conviction, but Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura rejected a request to sentence Heuer to probation, citing the large scope of the growing operation.

Mark Heuer awaits sentencing in the case.