Courtney Thomas to Serve Probation, 100 Hours of Community Service

Courtney Thomas, the former student originally charged with ethnic intimidation, will be serving 100 hours of community service and one year's probation — the last step in a racially charged case that rocked Birmingham last spring.

According to CBS Detroit, Thomas — who admitted to writing racial graffiti in a Seaholm boys bathroom last April — took the plea deal before Judge James Alexander in Oakland County Circuit Court Wednesday.

On Aug. 31, Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of disturbing the peace in return for dropping the ethnic intimidation charge, which carries a potential sentence of two years jail time and a $5,000 fine.

The maximum sentence for disturbing the peace is 90 days in jail.

A timeline of Thomas's case illustrates both tension and confusion in the Seaholm community:

Notes, graffiti found at Seaholm

• April 20: . It's later revealed the note mentions five African American students at the school, including Thomas.
• April 26-27: Two more racist notes are discovered in and . Neither notes are later tied to Thomas.
• May 2: Student members of the Birmingham Voice .
• May 6: Another racist note is discovered in a Seaholm boys bathroom; the date "May 12" is mentioned (Thomas is not tied to this note either).
• May 6: Seaholm students . Thomas reads a poem at the vigil.
• May 11: Seaholm officials meet with parents and community members, .
• May 12: , the date mentioned in the racist graffiti discovered May 6.
• May 17: Oakland County prosecutors announce that the student suspended, .
• May 18: In his first court appearance, . Thomas's lawyer, Wendy Barnwell, says Thomas was the victim of bullying.
• May 20: The Oakland County branch of the .

Thomas heads to court

• May 24: by Judge Diane D'Agostini during a pre-exam conference.
• June 14: in district court, sending his case straight to the Oakland County Circuit Court.
• June 22: . Thomas also has new representation, Elbert Hatchett, who is granted a four-week information gathering period to put his case together.
• July 27: until Aug. 31.
• Aug. 31: in exchange for dropping the ethnic initmidation charge. 

According to Birmingham Schools spokeswoman Marcia Wilkinson, there have been no new developments in the investigation into the other racist notes but the school welcomes tips from students or parents.

The school year has been quiet so far, said new Seaholm principal Deb Lancaster, though she's determined not to let discussion fade with Thomas's name on the court docket. Lancaster said she will be hosting formal and informal discussions with students and staff on the issue of race all year long.