A former U.S. postal worker who tipped off a drug dealer that he was under federal investigation will not go to jail.

A federal magistrate judge sentenced Kenwood Alapa, 52, to three years' probation for disclosing confidential information he learned while on the job at the Kapaa Post Office in August 2007. The crime is a misdemeanor.

Alapa was a part-time flexible clerk and acting supervisor at the time.

Alapa admitted that he disclosed information that a U.S. postal inspector had requested an address verification of drug dealer Edward Holland.

Holland is serving a 12-year federal prison term for running a large-scale marijuana growing operation on state land on Kauai.

Federal, state and county law enforcement officials seized 5,922 marijuana plants at the foot of Mount Waialeale.

Because of the amount of drugs involved, Holland faced a mandatory life prison term. But a federal judge imposed the lower sentence for Holland's assistance to law enforcement in catching other criminals, including Alapa.