Shawn Henderson of the 700 block of Clopper Road in Gaithersburg pleaded guilty in July to two counts of armed robbery, and one count each of attempted robbery and carrying a weapon openly with intent to injure, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Durke G. Thompson issued a 60-year sentence Tuesday to Henderson, and suspended all but 12 years.

Abdul Tejan Williams, 21, of the 12900 block of Poppyseed Court in Germantown also pleaded guilty in July to two counts of armed robbery and one count each of attempted armed robbery and conspiracy to utter a false document. Williams will be sentenced Sept. 29.

The robberies and attempted robbery occurred about 9 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the 18900 block of Smoothstone Way in Montgomery Village, and at about 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the 400 block of Christopher Avenue.

Montgomery County Police received reports of two separate people having a man come up behind them, put a knife to their throats, rob them and leave a cut on each of their necks.

In a third incident, an unidentified man tried to rob a woman at about 8:10 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the 19200 block of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown and also left a cut on her neck.

Police investigated Henderson and Williams after a third man was arrested on Dec. 10 at a Gaithersburg branch of Chevy Chase Bank on Bureau Drive for trying to cash a check of one of the victims, according to the State's Attorney's office.

The police investigation of Henderson and Williams revealed the two had been together Dec. 9 and Henderson was wearing a jacket that day that matched the description given by the people who were robbed, the release said.

Police then obtained a warrant to search Williams' car where police found a bloody knife and items belonging to one of the victims, the release said.