WAILUKU - A Molokai man was given a chance to keep convictions off his record as he was sentenced last week for helping cultivate marijuana plants found on Molokai Ranch property last year.

Jason Stevens, 22, was among people living in tents at Dixie Maru Beach on Molokai's west side when police discovered the 47 plants weighing a total of 2-1/2 pounds on Feb. 15, 2008, said Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones.

"His statement is that he's living on the beach to get away from trouble," Jones said at Thursday's hearing. "But he was basically right in the middle of it."

She said his cousin, Chantell Stevens, told police the marijuana was hers alone. "He tells the police he doesn't want his cousin to go down alone," Jones said.

She said Stevens reported he had watered the plants every other day.

Defense attorney Thomas Kolbe noted that police searched three tents of homeless people at the beach, finding marijuana in someone else's tent and growing material including fertilizer in another person's tent.

He said Stevens has no prior criminal record and had done well while released on supervision. He is living with his mother and trying to find work on Molokai, Kolbe said.

Stevens had pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana and possessing drug paraphernalia.

Kolbe said the most important thing to Stevens was keeping the convictions off his record.

Jones opposed the request, saying the marijuana wasn't for personal use but was being grown for sale.

Noting that Stevens is young and has no other contacts with the criminal justice system, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza granted Stevens' request for a chance to keep the convictions off his record if he complies with court requirements for the next five years.

Stevens was given credit for 81 days he previously spent in jail.

Chantell Stevens is awaiting sentencing.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto @mauinews.com.