A man who robbed three convenience stores at gunpoint in March has been ordered to spend about four years in prison.  

Joseph D. Maine, 23, (pictured last year) was sentenced last week to 51 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of first-degree robbery.

Maine, who was featured in a news article last year for helping car crash victims, told police he was an unemployed heroin addict with a family to support when he robbed Mike's Grocery, 2025 N. Hamilton St., and at Zip Trip, 2005 N. Hamilton, and the Broadway Mini Market, 10304 E. Broadway Ave., over the course of two days.

Police seized a black Daisy BB gun from a home where Maine was staying in the 3800 block of South Bowdish Road.

Police also found drugs in Maine's jeans and noted hat Maine asked them to "remove used needles from under his daughter's mattress," according to court documents.

In addition to the prison sentence, Maine is required to pay $370 restitution.

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