The criminal case against a Leilehua High School teacher accused of selling drugs is a "sad aberration" and shouldn't undermine public confidence in the thousands of public school teachers, the head of the teacher's union said yesterday.

Joan Husted, executive director of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association, said she was shocked when she learned of the accusations against Lee N. Anzai. Anzai was charged with selling crystal methamphetamine to an undercover agent on five occasions from Sept. 8 until Tuesday night just before his arrest.

The 28-year-old special education teacher is being held at the Federal Detention Center awaiting a hearing today on whether he should continue to be held without bail.

Anzai is believed to be the first public school teacher to be prosecuted for selling "ice."

Husted said there are currently about 13,000 public school teachers.

"You're talking about 13,000 people," she said. "You've got one case, which has not been adjudicated yet. I don't know of any other occupational group where you have that kind of statistical fact.

"I think the community ought to feel very good that their kids are being taught by teachers who uphold the highest ethical and moral standards and obey the law. They ought to be very proud of that fact."

Meanwhile, Anzai's lawyer, Howard Luke, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Kawahara are preparing for today's hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang on the prosecution's motion to continue holding Anzai without bail.

Chang must determine whether Anzai might flee or whether he's a danger to the community.

Under federal law, a defendant who faces a drug charge carrying a minimum 10-year prison term is presumed to be a danger. If convicted, Anzai faces a prison term of 10 years to life in prison.

He is accused of selling a total of 15 ounces of ice to an undercover officer for $44,500 in transactions at parking lots away from Leilehua High School.

Kawahara said he won't argue that Anzai should be held based on his job as a schoolteacher. But he said in cell phone conversations, Anzai was telling the undercover officer within two or three weeks of meeting him how to avoid being detected for drugs in urine testing.

Kawahara said it suggests "what he seems willing to teach is not entirely appropriate."

Luke said Anzai is a lifelong Hawai'i resident who has no prior criminal record.

Although there are allegations that he used his cell phone on campus to set up drug deals, he is not accused of selling or using drugs at the high school or selling to anyone other than the undercover officer, Luke said.

In addition, there is no allegation that he made any threats or acted violently and no weapons were found on him when he was arrested or in his car or at his Mililani home, the defense attorney said.

"He is certainly a person who is worth the benefit of overcoming the presumption (that he's dangerous)," Luke said.

Luke said he doesn't anticipate calling any witnesses, but letters will be submitted in his behalf by supporters.

The defense attorney said he visited his client at the detention center yesterday.

"He's feeling very badly about everything," he said. "He is taking this very, very seriously and he misses his family very, very much, in particular his wife and their young child."

Luke said the judge could allow him to be released on condition that he is electronically monitored. He could also be ordered to undergo, if necessary, drug assessment and treatment, he said.

Anzai indicated he had used ice for years, according to a federal affidavit citing the cell phone conversations.

Luke said his client was considered a good teacher.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, he truly loved his students," Luke said. "That's something he will surely miss."

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.