Timothy J. Polston could spend the next two decades in prison for the robbery of two Subway Shops in Meridian last winter — and his getaway driver, Raymon M. Alberts, will join him for as many as 12 years.

Both men were sentenced earlier this month for their roles in the robberies of sandwich shops on Franklin Road and Main Street during the first week of January.

The 21-year-old Polston pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of robbery, aggravated battery, and grand theft in connection with Subway robberies and a different home burglary. Last week, 4th District Judge Michael Wetherell gave Polston a 20-year prison sentence for the charges. Polston can ask for parole after serving four years.

The 25-year-old Alberts pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of grand theft and unlawful possession of a weapon. Wetherell gave Alberts a 12-year prison sentence, where he can also ask for parole after serving four years.

Both cases were resolved with plea agreements with Ada County prosecutors before they went to trial.

Police arrested both men Jan. 6. Officers picked up Polston during a traffic stop that day but had to spend more than five hours surrounding a house at 32 W. Idaho Ave. before Alberts surrendered. That standoff ended after police fired pepper-spray gas in the house.

The standoff snarled traffic near Downtown Meridian and forced nearby Meridian Elementary School into lockdown all afternoon.

Meridian police say the pair robbed two Subway shops between 10 p.m. Jan. 4 to 8 a.m. Jan. 5.

The first hold-up was at the Subway in the 1600 block of Main Street when police say Polston took a clerk’s wallet, cellphone and some cash.

The second hold up took place at 1789 Franklin Road. Police say that a robber showed the clerk a handgun, demanded a bagful of cash and walked out.