HONOLULU -- An ex-officer, who prided himself for his personal toughness, broke down and cried in court Wednesday.

Former patrolman James Corn Jr. was being sentenced for being a drug user in possession of illegal weapons.

KITV's Daryl Huff reported that Corn smiled at court Wednesday before admitting he had been an out-of-control officer on drugs.

Larry Woodward said he knew that dark side. He owned Larry's Muffler, a local muffler shop, when Corn last year allegedly threatened to kill him over a tire warranty dispute, which Woodward said police didn't take seriously at the time.

"Nobody's ever apologized. Nobody's ever called me. My business fell apart. The help all quit," said Woodward.

Six months later Corn was arrested in a drug and weapons sting selling an unregistered pistol to an undercover officer. On Wednesday he tearfully apologized before Judge Helen Gillmor.

"My addictions took over my life. I let everybody down," Corn said.

"When he came to my shop and did all that stuff it wasn't the real person, it was the drugs," Woodward said.

Gillmor said she did believe Corn was sincere and capable of turning his life around, but she could not ignore the disservice he had done society and the police. Corn's 28-month sentence was about twice what a civilian would receive for the same crime.

"Really, I think it was pretty fair," Woodward said.

Corn left court carrying his son and surrounded by family and friends. Twenty-eight months may only be the beginning.

The state may still prosecute the alleged threats at Larry's Muffler.