An Ellicott City barber has been charged by Howard County police with sexually abusing a 13-year-old male client.

Jung Gon Kim, 54, is charged with sexual abuse of a minor, second- and third-degree sex offense, sodomy and second-degree assault.

Kim, who lives in Boyds in Montgomery County, worked at Scissors Sound Hair Salon, 3419 Plum Tree Drive. He was arrested Oct. 31, and is being held at the county detention center on $500,000 bond, according to police.

The victim reported the abuse last month, police said in a news release. He told police that Kim made inappropriate sexual comments toward him on several occasions, and police believe the incidents escalated in September.

Because the hair salon is located near a residential neighborhood, police believe there might be other juvenile victims and are encouraging parents to speak to their children. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-313-2200.