A former teacher at Fulton Academy of Science and Technology was arrested Thursday on multiple charges related to the alleged sexual assault and rape of a student in 2020, Roswell police said.
Robert Vandel, 63, of Canton, was arrested and charged with six counts related to the incident at his former school, Roswell police spokesman Officer Tim Lupo said in a statement. His charges include rape, aggravated assault with intent to rape a child under 14, aggravated child molestation, sexual assault by a person in supervisory authority, enticing a child for indecent purposes and false imprisonment of a child less than 14.
Vandel was arrested at his current school, Lyndon Academy in Holly Springs, Lupo said. The private school announced Friday that he has since been fired, Channel 2 Action News reported.
The investigation began Tuesday when Roswell police received a report about the possible sexual assault of a child at FAST, Lupo said. Vandel was a science teacher at the public charter school, which serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Few details were released about the investigation, but police believe the assault took place in early 2020.
Investigators also believe Vandel may have assaulted other victims, Lupo said.
“As that investigation has progressed, our detectives feel there’s a potential that other individuals were victimized by Mr. Vandel as well,” Lupo told Channel 2. “We would encourage anyone with additional information or any potential additional victims to reach out to our police department.”
Roswell police said they are working with Holly Springs police and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to identify any additional victims.
Vandel’s arrest makes him the second teacher charged with sexual crimes against children in north Fulton in less than a week.
On Saturday, a 25-year-old physical education teacher and coach at Fulton Science Academy, Tarik Uduk, was arrested on charges of possessing child pornography and obscene internet contact with a child, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Uduk was booked into the Fulton County Jail and released on $50,000 bond Monday.
While Vandel is accused of sexually assaulting a student, police in Sandy Springs are still working to determine if Uduk ever had any inappropriate contact with any of his students. Though the schools have similar names, FSA is a private school and is not affiliated with FAST.
Anyone with information about Vandel or any other potential incidents of child sexual assault is asked to contact the Roswell Police Department at 770-640-4100. Anonymous information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-8477 or by going to www.StopCrimeATL.org.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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