Gasps of surprise interrupted the soft sobs of Peter Robles’ family members as his sentence for crashing a car and fleeing police was read Thursday in Pima County Superior Court.

Robles, 28, was sentenced to nine months in prison for his third felony conviction in 10 years, but it could have been worse, he was told by the judge. Robles faced five years for fleeing a police officer and crashing his mother’s car into Rincon High School’s fence in December 2010.

Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Miller said he was taking into account Robles’ family support when handing out the more lenient sentence.

Robles nodded to his family members as he was led away by two Pima County Sheriff’s deputies.

“Thank you, God,” Margarita Robles, his mother, cried out repeatedly.

Robles had pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal damage, possession of marijuana for sale and fleeing from an officer, under an agreement with prosecutors in September.

He apologized to the court and to police officers “for risking their lives and the lives of others.”

“I thank God that I didn’t hurt anyone that day,” said Robles, who had been out on bail since his arrest in December.

A Pima Community College police officer had attempted to stop Robles for a traffic violation. But when the officer got out of the car, Robles drove off, according to his lawyer, Peter Keller, who has represented him since 2002.

Chased through a residential neighborhood, Robles crashed his mother’s Jeep Liberty into Rincon High School’s fence. Police officers arrested him while he tried to climb a wall, Keller said.

Thursday was the third time Robles had been sentenced in court. He had been put on probation in 2002 after he and friends tried to steal a stereo from a car.

In 2005, he was involved in an incident similar to the latest case. He crashed a car into an occupied house. No one was hurt, but Robles served about a year and a half in prison.

Keller asked the judge to consider that Robles has been working since his release from prison. He also noted that Robles’ family was at the court hearing to show support. His wife, mother, father, other family members and friends sat together during the sentencing.

“I’m pretty happy with the results,” Keller said of the sentence in an interview after the hearing. “But the poor kid is going to prison again.”