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A judge sentenced Sidney Lowe II this afternoon to 15 months at the Guilford County Prison Farm.

Superior Court Judge Henry Frye Jr. suspended an additional 11-year prison term and ordered Lowe to serve five years of probation after his release.

During earlier testimony Tuesday, Sidney Lowe, head coach of N.C. State's men's basketball team, wiped away tears as he begged Frye to be lenient on his son.

"I ask that the court have mercy on him," Lowe said. "Give my son a chance."

Sidney Lowe II, 23, had faced up to about 23 years in prison for his role in two robberies last year. He pleaded guilty Monday.

The younger Lowe also spoke to Frye on Tuesday, saying he was a changed man and asking for a second chance. Lowe apologized to his parents and to the victims who were in the courtroom.

"No matter what your decision may be," Sidney Lowe II said to the judge, "you will never see me in this court again, or any other court."

Defense attorneys Locke Clifford of Greensboro and Joe Cheshire of Raleigh presented testimony today that they say supports extraordinary mitigation, meaning the judge could impose a sentence outside of the state's structured sentencing schedule.

Under the schedule, Lowe faced mandatory time for several of the more than one dozen charges against him.

The attorneys argued that Lowe has taken steps on his own since being arrested that are beyond what might be expected and warrant a lesser sentence. For instance, he confessed to bringing the assault rifle to one of the robberies when officials had believed the co-defendant, Brian Martin, had brought the weapon.

He also underwent treatment for his dependency on marijuana and Ecstasy, a dependency that had led him to become involved in the robberies, a forensic psychiatrist testified Monday.

Lowe's father and Cheshire apologized today to the victims for the terror they suffered. But they also called that time an aberration in the younger Lowe's life and argued that he can still be a productive citizen.

His son wants to finish college, Lowe said.

Now that his namesake has dealt with his drug problems, Lowe said he feels as if he has his son back.

"I'm proud of the way he's owning up to what he did," he said.

Lowe pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to possession of marijuana, possession of Ecstasy, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and six counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping. Most of those charges stem from a March 16, 2007, home invasion.

He also entered an Alford plea on a charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a weapon on educational property in a March 24, 2007, shooting at UNCG. An Alford plea means he does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to convict him.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com