Former Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault May Have More Young Victims Across GA: Police

GEORGIA — State investigators believe a former Fulton County charter school science teacher may have sexually assaulted more young victims than his original charges suggest.

Investigators are asking victims to speak up.

Friday the Georgia Bureau of Investigations announced that Robert Vandel’s reach may have extended across the state and even over state lines into Alabama.

The GBI said there could be more victims, all younger than 15 at the time of the incidents, in Holly Springs, Canton, Woodstock, Duluth, Valdosta, Savannah, and Midland, as well as in Opelika, AL.

Vandel, the 63-year-old Canton man who taught at Lyndon Academy in Holly Springs and Fulton Academy of Science and Technology (FAST) in Roswell, was arrested in September on allegations of a 2020 incident involving a student at FAST.

He was charged with rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated assault with intent to rape a child under 14, enticing a child for indecent purposes, and false imprisonment of a child less than 14. Vandal remains in custody without bond at the Fulton County jail.

The GBI has been asked to assist with the investigation because the potential victims are spread across the state. And investigators are encouraging victims to come forward.

Anyone with information that can help investigators is urged to contact Roswell Police Department Detective Cheryl Dickerson by email at cdickerson@roswellgov.com or call 770-640-4453.