By The newspaper
May 29, 2024, 00:56 AM EDT
Vincent Root, a New Jersey special education teacher who had already been accused of sexually touching several elementary school students, now faces charges of assaulting seven more, authorities announced.
According to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, in September 2023 a student came forward and accused Root, a former Chatsworth Elementary School teacher, of touching him inappropriately.
After an investigation was launched, it was determined that seven victims, all male children, were allegedly touched by Root while in classrooms over a period of several years, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the 59-year-old suspect, who was accused in October of sexually touching those seven boys, has now been accused of touching seven more students.
A Burlington County grand jury returned a 28-count indictment against Root, charging him with 14 counts of sexual assault and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Root pleaded “not guilty” at his arraignment last week. He is currently free, awaiting trial, according to authorities. Information about the victims has been withheld to protect their identity, he said. NBC News.
Prosecutors ask anyone with information about Root or another similar case to email tips@co.burlington.nj.us or call 609-265-5035 and ask to speak to a Special Victims Unit detective. . Victims of sexual assault can request assistance through the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
In a similar case, last week a substitute teacher at a high school in Queens (NYC) was arrested after allegedly telling a 14-year-old student that he could make her “fall in love” with him, according to New York police. York.
Also this month, a teacher’s assistant at PS 481 elementary school in the Bronx (NYC) was arrested on charges of harassment and child endangerment after he allegedly sent a love letter to a 10-year-old student. Before he was arrested he was beaten by the girl’s angry stepfather, police said.
Two weeks ago Michael Budhu, an assistant principal at a high school in Queens, was arrested for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a 15-year-old student.
At the end of April, an undercover operation led to the arrest of Jared Jeridore (24), a young New York City school traffic guard, on suspicion of seducing a 14-year-old minor into sexual relations.
In January, NYPD officer Angad Beharry and Gisianet Christina Chirinos Viloria were arrested and charged on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a 9-year-old girl.
In September, Jesús Concepción, a former music teacher at a charter high school in the Bronx, admitted to sexually abusing five female students, one of whom was 12 years old.
In August, Jamall Russell (29), an employee of the NYC Department of Education (DOE), was arrested and accused of abusing a fifteen-year-old girl in Queens. That same month, a mathematics teacher was sued, fired, and charged with child abuse charges for allegedly filming an 11-year-old Hispanic student with his cell phone in the bathroom of a prestigious Catholic boys school in Manhattan (NYC).
All charges are mere accusations and those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
- Girl kidnapped for sex trafficking through social networks managed to escape 6 months later in New York
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has warned since 2020 about an increase in cases of child pornography due to the increased time spent online by adults and children using social networks.
If you are a victim or suspect that someone is being abused, especially if it is a minor or elderly:
I looked for help
- Call 911, 988 or (800)-942-6906.
- Text “WELL” to 65173.
- Review information at https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/es/ and www.988lineadevida.org