A teacher at an Orange County charter school has been arrested, accused of molesting children and even holding them hostage.

Deputies say Anthony Salvo, who taught at Renaissance Charter School at Hunter's Creek, held a student in his classroom without the child's consent.

On another occasion, investigators said Salvo massaged a student's upper thigh and asked the student to wrap their legs around him in a simulated sex position.

In both incidents, the students told detectives they feared for their safety.

Salvo, 31, was arrested Wednesday. He admitted to deputies his intentions were sexual in nature and confessed to molesting other children.

"Our highest priority is the safety and security of our students," said school spokeswoman Colleen Reynolds. "While we cannot discuss any specific human resources issues, we can say that all employees must pass a rigorous background check in order to be employed. If any staff member breaks the law, they are terminated."

Reynolds said Salvo has not been on campus since the Feb. 27 incident and would not return.

Parents of students at the K-7 charter school said administrators only gave them a vague outline of what happened. Parents were shocked when provided more information from Salvo's arrest report, including the fact that the man admitted to investigators that he molested other students.

"I'm at a loss for words," said Bryan Munoz, a parent of a student at the school. "I can't even ... I'm just so disgusted."

Another parent, Patricia Grogan, added: "And now talking with my daughter, she says she knows him and that's making me feel weak. ... I'm shocked."

Salvo's neighbors at the Tallwood Terrace Apartments in St. Cloud said they didn't even know he was arrested on child molestation charges.

"I just feel amazed and grateful that you came by and let me know about my surroundings because I would have never known about (it)," said Antonio Tirado, one of Salvo's neighbor and a father of two children.

Neighbors said Salvo just moved into his apartment about a month ago, but no one at the apartment complex knew why deputies served a search warrant at the man's home earlier this week.

Salvo also told investigators he resigned from his last job after asking one of his students on a date.

Salvo is being held without bond at the Orange County Jail.