Durham, N.C. — Grant Rockett, a former teacher at a Durham charter school, was convicted of molesting a 9-year-old male student.

Rockett, 49, of 2500 A-Englewood Ave., was convicted of sexual battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a minor was dismissed.

Superior Court Judge Steve A. Balog gave Rockett a suspended sentence, along with 18-months' supervised probation.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender with the N.C. Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry.

Rockett taught second grade for years at Central Park School for Children, a year-round charter school located on Foster Street in Durham. He was fired at the outset of the criminal investigation.

Both alleged incidents involved a 9-year-old former student. According to warrants, Rockett provided the youth with alcohol in March 2006 and inappropriately touched the student over the summer.

Charges were first brought against him in October 2006.

According to the school, the alleged incidents happened off-campus.