Director facing more charges in child pornography case

CTV Barrie: More charges for Sandy Thorburn A prominent actor/director is facing more charges in a child pornography case. Sandy Thorburn was in court again today. Mike Walker reports.

Sandy Thorburn is facing 19 new charges after investigators identified more victims.

OPP say Thorburn arranged to meet teenage girls at a hotel in Barrie. Today, he walked into the Orillia courthouse with his wife and family by his side. The 19 additional charges the music teacher and theatre director is facing include making and possessing child pornography, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, internet luring and juvenile prostitution.

Thorburn was arrested in July at the Monte Carlo Inn in Barrie. Investigators say he was with a 17-year-old girl, allegedly to make child pornography. Police say Thorburn met his victims online using different aliases and pretending to be a photographer and model scout.

“After his original arrest, police identified five more victims and as a result 19 charges were laid,” says Det. Insp. Scott Naylor. “On social media sites he was luring these young people under the disguise of a modeling agency and from there was luring them into other sexual-related activity.”

Thorburn is now facing a total of 25 charges. He stood before the judge and said nothing. Thorburn is free on bail but with strict house arrest conditions including having no access to the internet and he is not allowed to be in any public place where anyone under the age of 18 is present.

Investigators say they are confident there are no more victims, but the investigation is still ongoing and more charges could be laid. Thorburn will be back in court on Oct. 1.