A former Tamaqua resident who is the owner and operator of the Fortin Academy of Music in the borough has been arrested on child pornography charges.

David Fortin, of Forty Fort, was charged Tuesday with 500 counts of child pornography, 100 counts of disseminating photos/film of child sex acts, and two counts of criminal use of a communications facility, according to court records.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Barilla of Forty Fort, Luzerne County.

He was denied bail because he is a “danger to society,” court documents state. He is in the Luzerne County Prison.

A preliminary hearing is listed for 8 a.m. Nov. 30 in Luzerne County Central Court.

Forty Fort Police Assisted Luzerne County Detectives on executing a search warrant Tuesday on Snowden Street, according to the borough’s Facebook post.

District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce will release more information later, the post said.

The Academy of Music has an address of 99 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua. According to the website, Fortin started as a vocal coach in his living room, later rented a small studio space in Tamaqua and grew to private lessons and later a full music academy. Dance classes and other activities occur there. There is also a Wilkes-Barre site, according to the website.

Fortin has ties to the Tamaqua community, having graduated in 2004 from Tamaqua Area High School and previously taught at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, Times News archives show.