Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that a special education teacher at Chatsworth Elementary School has been charged with sexually touching seven students while they were enrolled at the school.
Vincent Root, 58, of Carpenter Street in Philadelphia, was charged with seven counts of Sexual Assault (Second Degree) and seven counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Second Degree). He was taken into custody yesterday morning at the Prosecutor’s Office in Mount Holly and lodged in the Burlington County Jail pending a detention hearing in Superior Court. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
District officials said Root has been placed on administrative leave and has been banned from school property.
The investigation began last month after a student came forward and accused Root of touching him inappropriately during previous school years. The investigation revealed that the victims, all of whom are male, were touched in classrooms inside the school building. The investigation further revealed that the abuse occurred over a multi-year period.
The names, ages and further details about the victims are being withheld in an attempt to protect the identity of the victims.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police. The lead investigator was BCPO Detective Gary D’Alessio.
Anyone with information concerning this defendant that might be helpful to investigators is asked to send an email to tips@co.burlington.nj.us or call 609-265-5035 and ask to speak to a detective in the Special Victims Unit.
All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.