Vincent Root accused of sexually abusing female students

The sexual abuse allegations against a special education teacher have doubled in a new indictment. Vincent Root, 59, is now on trial for abusing a total of 14 students, the district attorney’s office in Burlington County, New Jersey, announced. Last year, authorities counted only seven victims.

Root, who taught at Chatsworth Elementary School, was first charged in October 2023.

“The investigation began last month after a student accused Root of inappropriately touching him during previous school years,” prosecutors wrote. “The investigation revealed that the victims, all of whom were male, were touched in classrooms in the school building. The investigation also revealed that the abuse occurred over a period of several years. Names, ages and other details about the victims are being withheld to protect the identities of the victims.”