A Toronto man has been charged with several child pornography-related offences.

Police arrested Sandy Thorburn, 49, who is a music and theatre director, at a hotel in Barrie where he was with a 17-year-old girl. Police allege he intended to make child pornography.

Thorburn was formerly a lecturer on music history at the University of Waterloo. He also taught at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus.

Ontario Provincial Police’s Orillia detachment and child sexual exploitation unit began investigating after several teenage girls in the Barrie and Orillia area reported that a stranger contacted them online claiming to represent modeling agencies and wanted to photograph them in exchange for money.

Thorburn allegedly met and paid the girls, ranging in age from 14 to 17, in several instances. Police allege Thorburn took photos of the girls for the purpose of making child pornography and also offered the teens money for sex in several of these meetings.

OPP Det. Insp. Scott Naylor alleges Thorburn used a fake social media identity to develop a trusting relationship with one of the girls online and then used her friends list to find the other teenage girls.

Police searched Thorburn’s home on Saturday and found several pieces of electronic evidence.

Thorburn allegedly used several identities including “Ryan Wardle,” “Lydia Lensky,” “Theron Spyra” and “Andre Stein” to present himself to his victims as the hired photographer, police said in a news release. He also allegedly claimed to represent modeling agencies named “Model Mayhem,” “Model Desire” and “TalentsMLS.com.”

Thorburn is directing and starring as narrator in Theatre Collingwood’s production of Billy Bishop Goes to War, scheduled to run until July 20.

The theatre’s website states he is a music director at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, (since 1986), and has directed music for more than 50 productions.

On a popular site for students to rate their professors, ratemyprofessors.com, Thorburn scored a 3.8 out of 5 in Waterloo.

His charges include making and possessing child pornography, juvenile prostitution and Internet luring.