PORTLAND, Ore. -- A man who admitted to threatening to murder the families of two former professional athletes in Portland is going to spend the next two years in prison.

Bobby Hayes pleaded guilty to attempted extortion last week.

Hayes put notes in the mailboxes belonging to family members of Terrell Brandon and Anthony Newman, telling them both to put $10,000 in a black bag by their garages, or else he'd murder their whole family.

But Terrell Brandon and a friend put some paper in a bag, and confronted Hayes when he came to pick it up.

Armed with their permitted handguns, Brandon caught up to Hayes in their northeast Portland neighborhood. No one was hurt, but police handcuffed all three men at the scene, until they sorted out victims from criminal.

In court Wednesday, Hayes apologized and said he didn't mean it, but the episode frightened the victims.

"I realized what position they were in, when I had to go through it myself. I never imagined putting somebody in shoes like that, that I've actually caused someone to be scared or threatened for their life or their families," Hayes said.

Hayes said he and his family had been anonymously threatened too after the extortion charges against him became known.

Reba Newman called police that day in February, but Wednesday she had forgiven him.

"They could have let Bobby go on probation, take care of his family. He have a family to raise. What he did was wrong. Everybody makes mistakes," Reba Newman said.

Anthony Newman said back in February, when he had no idea who'd threatened his family, he was caught off guard.

"It's scary, and it changes your life. When someone tells you they're going to kill you, and you don't know who it is. It makes you think and look over your shoulder every second," Anthony Newman said.

Terrell Brandon's father talked about the terror of the written threat; particularly for his wife, who was not in court, because she's undergoing cancer treatment.

But he said both his family and the Newmans forgive the extortionist.

The judge did not completely forgive Hayes' mistake.

He sentenced him to 25 months in prison and five more on probation.

Man Gets 2 Years For Threats To Ex-Sports Stars