New Jersey teacher accused of sexually harassing other students

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Burlington County elementary school teacher was charged last year with inappropriately touching seven students and now faces additional charges.

According to the Burlington County District Attorney’s Office, 59-year-old Vincent Root, a special education teacher at Chatsworth Elementary School, was charged Friday with touching seven other students.

They say a grand jury indicted Root on 28 counts, charging him with 14 counts of sexual assault and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The investigation was launched after a student came forward in September 2023 and accused Root of inappropriately touching him in previous school years. Investigators found that all of the victims were male and had been touched in classrooms over several years.

Root was originally charged in October. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last week.