George Dohrmann, SI.com

Dr. Alex Brown, a former instructor at the University of Houston who alleged that he and others improperly changed grades for athletes, was convicted of stealing more than $1,500 from the school and sentenced Thursday to three years probation and fined $7,510.

A jury in Harris County, Texas determined that Brown, a former African-American studies professor and academic counselor to athletes, stole money he received when returning student-athletes' textbooks to UH bookstores in December 2003. Brown supervised the athletic department's book program at that time.

"Justice was served," said UH athletic director Dave Maggard, who has steadfastly maintained that Brown's allegations of academic impropriety are groundless. "The district attorney had a very powerful case and our attorneys did a great job. We are pleased this matter is behind us."

Brown will appear in court Friday for formal sentencing. He had faced between 180 days and two years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines.

In advance of the trial, Brown and his attorney, former UH track star Jolanda Jones, charged the university with a wide array of academic misconduct in a story on SI.com last month. Brown alleged that from 1995 to 2003 he solicited from other UH professors at least 25 improper grade changes for UH athletes at the behest of coaches and other school officials. He also said he changed grades for at least 30 athletes in the class he taught, Introduction to African-American Studies.

Brown twice met with NCAA investigators to outline his charges. The NCAA contacted university officials on May 13, and a subsequent school investigation found 14 grade changes for student athletes from 1999-2005. Maggard said there was nothing improper about those changes. The school's findings have been forward to the NCAA.

Jones, Brown's attorney, did not respond to a message left for her Thursday. She told the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday, the day he was convicted: "Dr. Brown is sad, and I'm sad for him. I think he's guilty of being an absent-minded professor who just doesn't keep good records, and unfortunately, it came back to bite him."