After about two days of deliberation, a Forsyth County man was acquitted of charges he had improperly touched a child.

Late Wednesday, a Forsyth County Superior Court jury found 54-year-old Dexter Charles Gravitt not guilty of one count each of aggravated sexual battery and child molestation.

“Praise God, praise God, thank you Lord,” Gravitt said.

Gravitt, who at one time had been a minister at Mayfield Baptist Church in northeastern Forsyth, was arrested in 2008 after the parents of a 6-year-old boy told authorities he had improperly touched their son.

Gravitt pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in 2010. Jury selection in his trial began Dec. 5.

If convicted of the charges, Gravitt faced a sentence of life in prison.

It appeared the verdict was difficult for jurors to reach.

Earlier Wednesday, they listened to recordings of testimony from two witnesses, a doctor and the boy, from whom they’d heard during the trial.

They also submitted questions throughout the day to Forsyth County Superior Court Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley for clarity.

At one point, they informed Bagley they felt they were at an impasse and equally divided on both charges.

Bagley gave the jury the option to either take a break and continue deliberating or come back the next morning if they felt they were too tired to keep going.

At about 10:30 p.m. the jury announced its verdict.