Police have charged a well-known musician, teacher and theatre director with allegedly meeting a 17-year-old girl at the Monte Carlo Inn in Barrie to make child pornography.
Orillia OPP arrested 49-year-old Toronto man Sandy Thorburn Friday, July 13, 2013.
Police say they started investigating after a number of teen girls in the Barrie and Orillia area complained of being contacted online by an unknown person claiming to represent modelling agencies. The person allegedly wanted to take pictures of them for money.
Investigators say several photo shoots took place between teens and the suspect and say during several of these meetings, he offered the teens money in exchange for sex.
On Saturday, police seized electronic evidence from his Toronto home.
OPP Insp. Scott Naylor says Thorburn allegedly had victims as young as 14 years old.
Police say Thorburn used several online identities including 'Ryan Wardle', 'Lydia Lensky', 'Theron Spyra' and 'Andre Stein’ and posted online at sites like Model Mayhem, Model Desire and TalentsMLS.com. Profiles for some of those aliases have already been deactivated online.
Thorburn is starring in and directing Theatre Collingwood's production of Billy Bishop Goes to War, which is scheduled for July 10 to 20, 2013.
Thorburn is charged with making child pornography, possession of child pornography, two counts of juvenile prostitution and two counts of Internet luring. He was held for bail July 15 in Barrie court and remanded to July 22, 2013 for another bail hearing.
