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LUBBOCK, Texas -- A judge has ordered Texas Tech safety Vincent Meeks to miss two games and serve 30 days in jail for violating terms of his probation on a forgery charge.

Meeks started serving the 30-day sentence last Thursday but was released Monday. The judge in Rockwall, where the forgery incident occurred about two years ago, told Meeks he could serve the sentence a few days at a time in order to continue attending classes at Tech, Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow said.

In 2003, Meeks was accused of trying to cash an illegal $475 computer-generated check that was made out to him, Sumrow has said. He pleaded guilty but was not convicted because the court gave him deferred adjudication and placed him on probation, Sumrow has said.

If he had completed his probation without any incidents, the charge would have been removed from his record.

At a hearing Thursday, the judge also extended Meeks' original three years of probation by another three years.

Meeks, a second-year starter who missed Tech's 56-3 victory against Florida International on Saturday, will return to jail Friday in Rockwall and be released Sunday. He has six months to complete the 30-day term, Sumrow said.

Tech (1-0), ranked 19th nationally, plays Sam Houston State on Saturday in Lubbock.

Meeks turned himself in late last month after learning an arrest warrant had been issued for him for violating terms of his probation, including failing to report to his probation officer.

The new terms of Meeks' probation include paying $1,050 in fees and fines by Oct. 7 and completing 150 hours of community service by October 2006. He must also complete a drug and alcohol assessment program by December and complete a life-skills program within 180 days.

If Meeks fails to fulfill the requirements, he could be sentenced to up to two years and will have a felony conviction on his record.

Tech coach Mike Leach said Monday that Meeks remains on the team.

"He's handling personal issues," Leach said. "When he handles those, we'll deal with it from there."

Meeks, a senior, is a Dallas native who attended Rockwall High School. He has made 27 career starts since cracking the lineup in the ninth game of his freshman season.