Lawsuits: Former Stamford Gym Teacher Molested Boys In 1970s, '80s

STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Two former students of a Stamford elementary school filed lawsuits Wednesday alleging they were sexually abused by a gym teacher decades ago.

The lawsuits allege that Robert Martinez, a former physical education teacher at the Rogers School, sexually abused young boys in the 1970s and early 1980s, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.

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Cindy Robinson, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said there are now five lawsuits pending against Martinez.

Robinson said Martinez, who worked for the Stamford school system for 33 years, would call boys out of class and sexually assault them in his private office.

The two former students filing the lawsuits are now in the 40s. Their lawyer said the alleged victims were not capable of seeking justice until now.

"These kids were fourth-, fifth-, sixth-graders and were way too young to have the ability to come forward because, as with all sexual abuse victims, they always blame themselves," Robinson said.

The children also felt too ashamed to tell their parents or anyone else about the alleged abuse, Robinson said.

The defendants in the lawsuits, which ask for monetary, punitive and exemplary damages, are Martinez, the Stamford Board of Education and Rogers School Principal Edward Mathews.