HONOLULU -- Matthew Lewis' parents, his current girlfriend and close friends sat behind him in court Monday in a show of support.

"He's always first and ready to volunteer on missions and tours of duty so that other military personnel can stay home with their spouses and families," testified Janice Bachiller, a former girlfriend who tried to illustrate a compassionate side to the air national guardsman and former karate instructor convicted of being an Internet predator.

A parent of Lewis' karate students made a tearful plea for leniency.

"Please, give him another chance," said Theresa Ann Pestana. "That's all he's asking. That's all we're asking."

Lewis was arrested in October 2008 after he arranged a meeting for sex at the McCully Zippys restaurant with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl he met online, but who was actually an undercover police officer.

Lewis knew going into court he faced a mandatory 10 years in prison by state law, but his attorney argued the court could not take into account his client has no prior record and claimed Lewis never intended to go through with the encounter.

"It wasn't going to happen, but the Legislature doesn't give the court to even think about these things," said Harrison Kiehm, Lewis' attorney.

But the prosecutor said a 10 year sentence is appropriate in this case because a jury found there was intent in Lewis' actions by exposing himself online, the sexual nature of his computer chats and by arranging the meeting.

"It's true, he doesn't have prior convictions, but it's also true through the Internet, we're able to see a side of Mr. Lewis that most people don't see," said Albert Cook, deputy attorney general.

Lewis immediately began his sentence after Judge Karen Ahn ruled three additional counts against Lewis would run concurrent with his 10 year term.

Matthew Lewis did not speak at his hearing Monday on the advice of his attorney who said they plan to appeal the verdict.