BurlCo Elementary School Teacher Sexually Assaulted 7 Students: Prosecutor

CHATSWORTH, NJ — An elementary school teacher in Burlington County sexually assaulted seven students over a multi-year period, authorities announced Friday.

Vincent Root is a special education teacher at Chatsworth Elementary School. The Woodland Township School District placed Root on administrative leave and banned him from school property, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office (BCPO).

Root, 58, of Philadelphia, was charged with seven counts of sexual assault and seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child — all second-degree offenses.

The investigation began last month, when a student came forward and accused Root of inappropriately touching him during previous school years, according to the BCPO. Investigators found that Root sexually abused several victims over a multi-year period inside the school's classrooms, authorities said.

All of the victims are males, the BCPO said.

Root was taken into custody Thursday morning and placed in Burlington County Jail, pending a detention hearing. Prosecutors will present the case to a grand jury for possible indictment.

Anyone with information about Root that may help investigators can email tips@co.burlington.nj.us or call 609-265-5035 and ask to speak to a detective in the Special Victims Unit.