Malvern music teacher charged with sexually abusing 6-year-olds

A Chester County piano teacher has been charged with sexually abusing three 6-year-old students he taught at the Malvern School of Music, prosecutors said.

Anton Fomin of East Pikeland Township is accused of abusing the students during private lessons at the school, officials said.

"Sexual predators try to put themselves into a position where they have access to children," Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan said in a statement. "This defendant was a music teacher, trusted by parents, with unfettered access to vulnerable children."

Fomin, 44, worked at the school for about four years and has been fired, officials said. He does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Officials said they began investigating Fomin when one of the girls was brought by her parents to Malvern Borough police June 4. Since then, another girl and a boy have said Fomin abused them, officials said.

The three children, whom Fomin had taught for a few months to a year, told police he had touched their genitals multiple times, according to an affidavit filed in the case. Fomin is also accused of showing nude pictures of children and adults to two of the students, and of exposing himself to the male student in the music school's bathroom.

Officials said Fomin also taught private lessons in his home.

He faces 15 charges including multiple counts of attempted aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and corruption of minors.

Dave Stoltzfus, the music school's owner, said Thursday he was "profoundly sad and concerned" for the children and had cooperated fully with authorities.