A former North Rowan High School teacher accused of having sex with a student will spend nearly 11 years in prison following a short hearing Thursday morning.
Bobby Eric Sharpe, 37, has been in the Rowan County Detention Center since his June 2009 arrest. Sharpe was accused of having sex with a then 15-year-old girl for several months. Members of the girl’s family contacted law enforcement to report the consensual relationship.
Sharpe turned himself in to authorities and was charged with 28 counts of felony sexual activity with a student and 12 counts of felony statutory rape/sexual offense.
Court officials said during the hearing investigators found cards the girl sent to Sharpe. Sharpe was an English teacher at the school. He resigned from the school prior to his arrest.
He was convicted of 12 counts of second-degree sex offense and 26 counts of felony sex offense with a student. Superior Court Judge Mark Klass sentenced him to a little more than seven and a half years to a little less than 10 and a half years. He was ordered to be on the N.C. Sex Offender Registry for 30 years and to have no contact with the victim.
Sharpe will receive credit for the time that he’s served while awaiting trial.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.