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GREENSBORO — Brian Martin testified Tuesday that co-defendant Sidney Lowe II took the lead in a March 2007 home invasion and a shooting at a UNCG dorm room.

Martin, 20, pleaded guilty last week to more than a dozen charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery in the two drug-related incidents. His sentencing began Tuesday afternoon before Guilford County Superior Court Judge Henry Frye Jr. It is expected to continue today at 9:45 a.m.

Lowe is the son of Sidney Lowe, men’s basketball coach at N.C. State. The younger Lowe’s attorneys argued during his sentencing last week that Martin had instigated the robberies. Lowe received 15 months at the Guilford County Prison Farm, a minimum-security prison in Gibsonville. The rest of his 11-year sentence was suspended. His attorneys successfully argued that extraordinary mitigation allowed Frye to sentence Lowe, who had no prior record, to a shorter term than is typical.

Martin faces similar charges, along with a more serious charge of assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting. His prior record will play a role in his sentencing, according to court documents.

More than a dozen family members and friends filled two rows behind Martin on Tuesday. At the time of the robberies, Martin said, he was drinking and smoking marijuana. He took part in the robberies only for the drugs, Martin said. He said Lowe suggested the first robbery, a home invasion on March 16, 2007, and showed up with an assault rifle after Martin went into the home with another man to buy drugs.

In the UNCG shooting on March 24, 2007, Martin testified that Lowe gave him the gun. Martin said he pulled the gun only after he and Stephen Cobb, the dorm room resident, started arguing about the quality of the marijuana. The gun went off when they struggled, he said. Cobb, 20, said he doesn’t recall an argument. He said Martin came in with a man that he knew. When he turned to get the marijuana, Martin pulled a gun, Cobb said.

The two struggled across the room and ended up with Martin against a wall and Cobb kneeling, trying to pull Martin to the floor.

“He told me he was going to shoot me,” Cobb said. “I heard it. ... I could smell it. I could feel it.”

Most of the bullet remains inside his body, and he struggles with periodic back pain, Cobb said.

He spent 10 days in the hospital and ended up with about $40,000 in medical bills, according to Assistant District Attorney Stephen Cole, who submitted a request for about $13,000 in restitution from Martin to pay for what insurance didn’t cover.

Cobb was charged with several drug-related offenses, including possession of marijuana and intent to sell. His case is pending.

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