Former tour bus driver Steve Oshiro lost a bid to withdraw a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced yesterday to up to 20 years in prison for manslaughter in the June 2006 death of motorist Corey Voss.

Oshiro pleaded no contest to the charge in January as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Oshiro, 50, drove his Roberts Hawaii tour bus across the center line of Kamehameha Highway in Kahalu'u and smashed head-on into a sport utility vehicle driven by Voss, 41, of Kane'ohe.

After changing defense lawyers in June, Oshiro asked to withdraw from the deal and also filed suit against Roberts Hawaii, alleging that company officials forced him to operate the bus after he complained that he was too ill to drive.

His new lawyer, Michael Green, argued yesterday afternoon to Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario that a section of the plea agreement, requiring that Oshiro be held in prison without bail if he backed out of the plea bargain, is unconstitutionally "punitive."

City Prosecuting Attorney Peter Carlisle, however, argued that Oshiro was fully informed about the terms of the agreement and was trying to renege because he and family members decided they didn't like the sentence Oshiro faced.

Carlisle also said the motion to withdraw the plea was part of the "change-the-lawyer game (that) is played by defendants far too often" to try to delay resolution of criminal cases.

Under the terms of the plea bargain, Oshiro still can withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial if the Hawai'i Paroling Authority determines that he must serve more than 10 years behind bars before being paroled.

Green said outside court he will appeal Del Rosario's ruling.

Carlisle has alleged that Oshiro was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine when the accident occurred, although no drug or alcohol tests were conducted by authorities after the collision.

Oshiro reportedly was fired by Roberts after he refused to undergo such tests. Oshiro claims in court papers that he resigned.

Green alleged previously that Roberts required drivers to work "80 to 90 hours a week" and that his client was physically exhausted when the collision occurred.

A lawyer for Roberts Hawaii has filed legal papers in the civil suit earlier this month denying Green's allegations.