Like your mom always said, it pays to mind your manners.

Just ask John Abraham — also known as the "polite robber" — who faced up to 68 years in prison for forgery and a string of armed robberies at mainly downtown businesses in the winter and spring of 2008. However, the 41-year-old — also known as "Fido" or "DJ Fido" — accepted a plea deal Friday that puts him on probation for five years, though he could have to serve 27 years in prison if he violates probation.

"I'd like to say that one of the things that influenced this plea in a big way was that ... he apologized to (victims in the case) when robbing them, which is a bit unusual," said prosecutor Anthony Rivera. "I've never had a robber do that before in any other case."

Tom Clark, Abraham's lawyer, told state District Judge Stephen Pfeffer that his client stayed out of trouble until early adulthood, when his father was killed in a car accident. Abraham received a large monetary settlement from the accident, and promptly "discovered the wonders of crack cocaine and heroin," he said.

"He managed to spend every bit of the settlement money on drugs and his life went catastrophically wrong," Clark said.

Abraham began his mild-mannered crime spree Jan. 29 when he walked into Chimera Boutique, 573 Old Santa Fe Trail, about 11 a.m. and used a knife to rob employees, who later told police he was polite. He used the same method to rob single women working at Toyopolis, 66 W. Marcy St., on Feb. 4, Big Star Books, 329 Garfield St., on Feb. 9, One Hour Martinizing, 2810 Rodeo Road on Feb. 10, Cielo Tabletop, 316 S. Guadalupe St., on Feb. 12, The Monks' Corner, 235 Don Gaspar Ave., on April 15 and Spabox, 211 Galisteo St., on April 16.

"He said, 'I'm sorry but I'm here to rob you,' " the owner of Spabox, Cherilyn Swenson, told The New Mexican after Abraham's last robbery. "I'm sorry but I need all the cash from your drawer," he told the 53-year-old woman working at The Monks' Corner, according to police.

Rivera told the judge Friday that another victim reported to police that Abraham walked into her store and said, "I'm sorry to do this but this is a robbery. I'm not going to hurt you. Just open the drawer."

The Santa Fe Police Department flooded the downtown area after the polite robber struck April 15 because they suspected, based on his past behavior, he might strike again soon. They also suspected he might be using public transportation to make his getaways because he often disappeared without a trace despite the fact that officers often arrived at the scenes of the robberies only minutes after they were reported.

The hunches paid off April 16 after the Spabox robbery. First, the robber was spotted and followed by several people downtown. Then a detective discovered an out-of-breath Abraham sitting on a bus waiting to leave the Sheridan Transit Center downtown.

"I'm just grateful for this opportunity that there's hope in recovery for me," Abraham told Pfeffer on Friday. "I pledge to never be here before you again."

Abraham also told the judge he's been "heavily involved" in Narcotics Anonymous, while Clark said Abraham was perfect during seven months in jail and eight months on electronic monitoring.

"If ever there was poster child before this court for a second chance in life, it's Mr. Abraham," Clark said.

Abraham pleaded guilty on Friday to three counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the robberies and six counts of forgery for illegally cashing his mother's checks. The judge gave him 27 years in jail but suspended the sentence.

Rivera said the victims and business owners in the case wanted only restitution for the money Abraham stole and didn't have any problems with the plea. Pfeffer also said he thought the plea was appropriate and warned Abraham to remain sober and avoid the "extreme behavior" the drugs brought out in him.

Contact Jason Auslander at 986-3076 or :jauslander@sfnewmexican.com.