A former Hamilton teacher and Toronto Blue Jay’s lead instructor is facing charges of child luring and invitation to sexual touching against children.

John Hashimoto, 56, of Hamilton, was charged March 31 at his home by Halton Regional Police, the force said in a press release.

The suspect was a lead instructor with the Toronto Blue Jays’ academy for young players and a Master Coach Developer and Evaluator for Baseball Canada.

He was also actively involved in youth baseball in the City of Hamilton.

He worked as a seasonal employee with the Blue Jays from 2006 to 2020, when his contract ended due to COVID-19.

The Toronto Blue Jays has said Hashimoto is not a current employee of the organization and has not been for about a year.

The team said the suspect underwent regular criminal record checks as part of his job.

The organization in a statement said they are “deeply disturbed to learn of the charges against a former seasonal employee, but as this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment further at this time.”

The suspect is a retired teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. He worked for the board for more than 30 years at four schools between 1987 to 2019.

The board is in the process of notifying families of the arrest.

Police said the incidents occurred online and the suspect was using the handle David or David 46.

Halton Police believe there could be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something?” Contact “Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca