HILO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim, known for his tough stance against crystal methamphetamine usage, is being criticized for writing a letter of support for a convicted drug dealer.

Deputy Prosecutor Jason Skier said Kim was sending a "mixed message" by railing against drugs, then supporting John Desa Jr., who on Friday was sentenced to 10 years in prison. John Desa Jr. is the son of former Big Island Assistant Police Chief John Desa.

Kim's letter was included in Desa's presentencing report, which is not a public record.

The mayor said he did not even know the circumstances of the case nor did he encourage Circuit Judge Glenn Hara to hand down a light sentence.

Kim said he agreed to write the letter at the request of defense attorney Douglas Halsted because he knew Desa had good character from the days when he coached him in youth football.

"One of the things I noticed about John (Jr.) was that he had a softness in him," Kim said.

Skier said the 39-year-old Desa was arrested at his Pahoa apartment in 2005, possessing 0.15 grams of methamphetamine in three separate packages and 0.7 grams of marijuana.

The separate packaging and scales found in Desa's apartment prompted prosecutors to pursue meth trafficking charges against him. He was convicted by a jury in October.

Rene Siracusa, a member of the Kokua Pahoa Neighborhood Watch, said it was no secret Desa was a drug dealer.

"It was right out in front and everybody knew it," she said. "I sat here and watched 20 people go through his door in a morning."

Skier said Desa's arrest was linked to Pahoa's federal "Weed and Seed" designation, which targets high-crime areas.

Halsted argued in court Friday that prosecutors were overly aggressive with Desa because he did not want to accept a plea bargain.

"I think John's being punished because he won't take deals and exercises his right to a trial," he said in court.