BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ—A special education teacher at Chatsworth Elementary School faces additional charges after being indicted by a Burlington County grand jury. Vincent Root, 59, of Philadelphia, is now charged with the indecent assault of fourteen students.
Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that Root, initially charged last October, was indicted on 14 counts each of Second Degree Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last week and remains free pending trial.
The charges stem from allegations that Root inappropriately touched male students in classroom settings over several years. The investigation began in September 2023 following accusations by a student about incidents during previous school years.
To protect their identities, the details about the victims, including their names and ages, are not disclosed. The investigation was a joint effort between the Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police, led by BCPO Detective Gary D’Alessio and prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife.
The Prosecutor’s Office urges anyone who believes they were victimized by Root to contact them via email at tips@co.burlington.nj.us or by calling 609-265-5035 to speak with a detective from the Special Victims Unit.