A martial arts instructor is accused of preying on his students, forcing parents to have a tough conversation with their kids.
Right now, a trusted tae kwon do teacher is locked up in the Pinellas County Jail. Investigators say Andrew Jin Kim, 23, say molested two students and fear the instructor at Oh's Tae Kwon Do in Seminole may have more victims.
The owner and parents tell 10News WTSP this is the ultimate betrayal of their trust.
"We teach our students to protect themselves from people like this," says Richard Oh, who owns the martial arts business. "I was so disappointed in his actions and what happened."
Oh says the man accused of molesting two of his students wasn't just an instructor -- Andrew Kim is his cousin.
"I never thought he would do anything like this," says Oh.
Investigators say when confronted Kim admitted to touching two girls, 6 and 7 years old, at different times from 2014 to 2015 while they were undressed in the bathroom.
"It's shocking to see what's going on. I trust him with my child every single day," says father Alex Guhr.
"I have kids. I can't tell you what I'd want to do if someone did that to mine," says mother Pam Belcastro.
When asked what situation would allow Kim to be alone with students in the bathroom, Oh says, "I have no idea. There's no way. I have two people on staff all the time. There's no possibility, but I guess it happened."
At the 23-year-old's home, his family is in disbelief. "No, that's not true, that's not true," says the woman who answered the door in tears.
But investigators say Kim told the victims to keep it a secret. One of the girls told her mom what happened last week.
It's something Diana Gomez has taught her daughter, Jasmia.
"We've talked about people touching her inappropriately. She has to always tell me," says Gomez. She asks her daughter, "If anyone touches you that you don't want touching you, what do you do?" The 7-year-old replies, "Tell mommy."
"We teach honor, respect, discipline, focus, self control. Everything that we teach, he just throws away to the ground," says Oh. "I feel really bad for the families and the victims."
Oh tells 10News that he runs background checks on his workers, but there wouldn't have been any red flags. Kim doesn't have a criminal history. Although, Oh says he did fire Kim last summer for not being honest with him.
Kim remains behind bars. He's expected to go before a judge Saturday morning.
Investigators says because Kim had contact with so many kids, he may have other victims. Anyone with information regarding this investigation or any other potential victims are asked to please contact Detective M. Kolenda with the Crimes Against Children's Unit at (727) 582-6200.
