A volunteer with the Astor Street Opry Company is being held in the Clatsop County Jail on 30 counts of encouraging child sex abuse in the first degree.

Michael Loren Wangen, 45, was arraigned Monday in Circuit Court. His bail is set at $1 million.

District Attorney Josh Marquis was at the arraignment. Marquis is also a volunteer of the Opry Company. Marquis told the court Wangen’s arrest stemmed from an undercover investigation by the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriffs Office revealed Wednesday the investigation initially started as a drug investigation by the Clatsop County Drug Task Force. Detectives learned Wangen was selling prescription pills and child pornography from his residence on 29th Street in Astoria.

As a result, detectives purchased more than 700 photos and videos from Wangen depicting child pornography. It is unknown if the children are members of the local community.

A search warrant was served Monday night at Wangens apartment with assistance from the Astoria Police Department, Seaside Police Department, Oregon Department of Justice and the Clatsop County Sheriffs Office. Wangen was subsequently arrested.

Investigators seized multiple computers for further analysis and hundreds of CDs and videos with potentially thousands of images of child pornography. The victims are said to be as young as four years old and are engaged in explicit sexual activity with adults and other children.

Marquis said the Opry Company members are aware of the arrest and members are acting appropriately. He said there is no indication Wangens alleged crimes involve his activities at Astor Street. Wangen was the director of Junior Shanghaied in Astoria, an all-childrens cast, in 2011 and 2012 after the departure of former Sunset Empire Transportation District Director Cindy Howe in 2010.

If Wangen is released, he will be ordered to have no contact with children, Marquis said.

Detectives are seeking any information from the public in regards to Wangen and any criminal activities.

People who have any information or questions, are asked to contact Detective Tim Guest at 503-298-7256.