LIHU‘E, Kauai — A Koloa man the prosecuting attorney said “escalated” from drug user to drug trafficker was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday.

Timothy Patrick Jeffrey, 36, said he is a drug addict, apologized to everyone he hurt, and understands the ones he hurt the most are the ones who love him the most, his wife and children, before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano.

“My major problem is that I’m a drug addict,” said Jeffrey, adding that he understands the “overwhelming” damage crystal methamphetamine, or ice, does to families.

“I love my wife. I love my children, and those are the ones who are going to be suffering the most” while he is in prison, Jeffrey said.

“I changed my life. All I want to do is keep changing, keep improving, stay off drugs,” said Jeffrey.

Through his O‘ahu attorney Michael Green, Jeffrey said he has been accepted into the Habilitat drug-rehabilitation program, which runs two and a half years, with the first 18 months requiring him to be isolated from his family.

“Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it. I have a long history of drug addiction. It’s a battle,” he said.

“You betrayed the very people who have stepped forward to support you,” Valenciano said to Jeffrey. “When you continue to get in trouble, eventually it catches up with you,” Valenciano said.

As a result of their father’s actions, Jeffrey’s children will grow up without him, and eventually they’ll understand their dad is in prison, Valenciano said.

While in prison, Jeffrey will understand the impact of his actions on his children in the short term and long term, the judge said.

“It’s a deserved situation. You created your own situation,” said Valenciano before announcing the 10-year sentence for second-degree methamphetamine trafficking and a 10-year concurrent sentence for Jeffrey keeping a pistol in an illegal place.

“He has a long criminal history,” Green said of Jeffrey. But Jeffrey did not re-offend while out on bail, which is a testament to him given the fact that all of his friends on this island are either on drugs or alcohol, Green said.

“It had to be difficult not to re-offend. He’s done well against great odds,” said Green. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for him,” and that light hopefully includes Habilitat, Green said.

Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said Jeffrey is a convicted felon who was caught with over 39 grams of ice and a handgun, and a 10-year sentence agreed to in the plea agreement “is appropriate.”

“The state feels he is a danger to the community,” and Jeffrey “escalated from user to trafficker,” said Iseri-Carvalho.

Jeffrey in this case was charged with first- and second-degree methamphetamine trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia, and five firearms violations including being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition and possession of a firearm with intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Jeffrey pleaded guilty to second-degree methamphetamine trafficking and keeping a pistol in an illegal place.

Counts of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest in a related case were dropped in exchange for Jeffrey’s pleading in this case, court records say.

“Mr. Jeffrey, good luck,” Valenciano said.