HARRISBURG — The former Penn State president, who was forced out as the school's top administrator when Jerry Sandusky was arrested a decade ago, will soon have to report to jail after a judge on Wednesday upheld a sentence issued four years ago.

The judge ordered Graham Spanier to begin serving at least two months at the county jail several miles from the Penn State campus on July 9 — followed by two months of house arrest on electronic monitoring — for a single misdemeanor conviction of endangering the welfare of children.

Spanier was charged in 2012 and convicted by a jury in March 2017, but appeals had allowed him to stay out of jail.

He was convicted for his actions in response to reports from his aides that a graduate assistant football coach had complained of being greatly disturbed by coming across Sandusky showering alone with a boy in a team locker room in 2001.

“He made a mistake and he's going to pay for his mistake, but I don't consider him to be a danger to society as I would a criminal,” Judge John Boccabella said.

Spanier has said the abuse of the boy was characterized to him as horseplay. He and other top administrators did not notify police, and Spanier wrote in an email at the time that “the only downside for us is if the message isn't 'heard' and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it.”

Spanier, 72, did not testify at his trial, but spoke at sentencing, telling the judge that he regretted not intervening more forcefully. He said little in the Harrisburg courtroom Wednesday, beyond telling Boccabella he remains a tenured faculty member. A university spokesperson this week described Spanier's status as being on administrative leave and not teaching classes.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued a statement after the hearing referring to the consequences of failing to protect children.

“Today marks the end of a long road towards justice for the children endangered by Mr. Spanier's inaction — choosing to cover up the abuse at the hands of Jerry Sandusky rather than reporting it to law enforcement,” Shapiro said.

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, left, walks to his hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A judge will determine if and when Spanier must report to jail to begin serving time for a single misdemeanor conviction of endangering the welfare of children. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier arrives for a hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday. A judge upheld Spanier’s sentence, issued four years ago. Associated Press

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, center, arrives for a hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A judge will determine if and when Spanier must report to jail to begin serving time for a single misdemeanor conviction of endangering the welfare of children. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier arrives for a hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A judge will determine if and when Spanier must report to jail to begin serving time for a single misdemeanor conviction of endangering the welfare of children.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

FILE - In this June 2, 2017, file photo, former Penn State President Graham Spanier departs after his sentencing hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa. A Pennsylvania judge will preside over the Wednesday, May 26, 2021 hearing in Harrisburg to determine if and when Spanier must report to jail to begin serving time for endangering the welfare of children. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file)

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier walks from the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., after a hearing at Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A judge has upheld the jail sentence of Spanier who was forced out as the school’s top administrator after Jerry Sandusky was arrested nearly a decade ago. The judge said Spanier must report to jail on July 9 to begin serving at least two months for endangering the welfare of children, followed by two months of house arrest. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier walks from the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pa., after a hearing at Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A judge has upheld the jail sentence of Spanier who was forced out as the school’s top administrator after Jerry Sandusky was arrested nearly a decade ago. The judge said Spanier must report to jail on July 9 to begin serving at least two months for endangering the welfare of children, followed by two months of house arrest. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)