A teacher in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley has been charged with sexual assault for alleged crimes that took place more than 10 years ago.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred between 1997 and 2001 in Hantsport, N.S.

“On Oct. 7, Windsor County RCMP received a report of a sexual assault that was historical in nature,” says RCMP Sgt. Al LeBlanc.

Fidel Castro is charged with sexual assault and sexual interference in connection with the alleged incidents.

“Basically it’s inviting someone under the age of 16 to touch or to be touched,” says LeBlanc.

Castro, a schoolteacher and taekwondo instructor, was also charged with sexual assault in Montreal in 2003 but he was later acquitted in the case.

Jeremy Mott’s eight-year-old son has been taking taekwondo with Castro for two years.

“Fidel has been fantastic as a teacher and as a role model for him,” says Mott. “Of the years that he has been in the school, he’s grown. My son has grown remarkably and gained a lot of confidence.”

Castro confirmed to CTV News that he is a schoolteacher, but isn’t currently employed. He says he was hired by a school in the Annapolis Valley to work next semester, but is in the process of quitting.

The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board will only say that Castro is not currently employed by the board.

Parents who know Castro say they need more information before casting judgment on the taekwondo instructor.

“We need to take a look at the context of it and find out a little bit more about the case before we really come to any kind of judgment,” says Mott.

“Shocked. It doesn’t at all come across as the person I know,” says parent Karen Hayman, whose two sons take taekwondo with Castro.

“He’s just an all around really great instructor and I trust him with my kids. I still would.”

Castro has not yet entered a plea to the charges. He is due to appear in court in Windsor on Nov. 25.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell