A 20-year-old who potentially faced up to three life terms in prison for a string of armed robberies late last year was sentenced Thursday to four years under Virginia's youthful offender statute.

Michael Andrew Rowe Jr. of Roanoke technically was sentenced to 40 years for robbing a Roanoke pawn shop and two 30-year terms for a pair of convenience store robberies in Roanoke County.

But Judge Clifford Weckstein suspended those sentences "somewhat dubiously," in favor of "employing the services of the youthful offender program" aimed at rehabilitating those under age 21.

At Thursday's sentencing hearing in Roanoke Circuit Court, Rowe's lawyers called a series of witnesses who testified that his behavior and attitude had changed radically in the past couple of years.

His parents, a neighbor and the mother of a child Rowe had coached in recreation league sports said he was not violent, was good with children and had become depressed and suicidal in recent years after breaking up with a girlfriend.

Rowe said he had taken up with "a bad crowd," although he acknowledged under his own attorneys' questioning that no one had prodded him to commit the robberies in November and December of last year.

He said he knew what he did was wrong, apologized, and said he intended to go to school when he is released.

Police questioned Rowe on a tip after the first convenience store hold-up in Roanoke County in November, but he denied involvement and was not charged then.

He was arrested on Christmas Eve after taking more than $45,000 worth of jewelry and other valuables from Town & Country Pawn Shop on Williamson Road.

Roanoke Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John McNeil described that robbery as particularly heinous. Rowe, wearing a mask and brandishing a pistol that turned out to be a BB gun, committed the crime while the owners' 4-year-old child was in the room.

McNeil recommended that Rowe be sentenced to life in prison to be suspended after 10 years for that crime.

Marian Kelley, Roanoke County's chief assistant commonwealth's attorney, asked the judge for a combined sentence of 60 years to be suspended after 10 served for the robberies in her jurisdiction.

Charges of using a firearm in the commission of a felony were taken under advisement in Roanoke County and not prosecuted in the city. No one was physically injured in any of the hold-ups.

Both prosecutors noted that Rowe had previously failed to complete a drug court program after pleading guilty to possessing marijuana with intent to distribute in 2007. That program is designed to provide intensive counseling for first-time felony drug offenders whose charges are dismissed if they complete it. Rowe started strong but eventually quit attending his sessions and ended up serving time in the Marion Correctional Treatment Center.

Weckstein warned Rowe on Thursday that "this is a one-time chance," and that if he violates any conditions of the youthful offender program he can expect to spend much of his life in prison.

Rowe also was ordered to pay more than $45,000 in restitution.