WARNING: This article contains details about child sexual assault.
Daniel Senecal, a registered sex offender, is now facing an additional charge on top of the existing five charges following the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in Welland, Ontario.
Appearing via video in the St. Catharines court on Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old, dressed in green jail attire from the Toronto South Detention Centre, was charged with breaching probation.
Senecal affirmed his understanding of the new charge when questioned.
The accused is also accused of aggravated sexual assault, sexual interference with a minor under 16, break and enter, choking, and assault.
At the time of his arrest on August 31, Senecal was on probation for an unrelated incident that mandated him to maintain good behavior and peace, as disclosed in court on Wednesday.
WARNING: Video contains distressing details | People in Welland, Ont., are outraged after a convicted sex offender allegedly sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl. Now there are concerns of vigilante justice in the community.
Niagara police reported that Senecal invaded the family residence of a young girl during the Labour Day weekend and assaulted her. The extent of her injuries was not discovered until the following morning, leading to her hospitalization and treatment.
Senecal was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy in 2021 and received an 18-month prison sentence. He was released six months early in March, as confirmed by the family of the boy, and was registered on the National Sex Offender Registry for two decades.
CBC Hamilton sought the Ontario Parole Board’s decision on Senecal’s early release but was informed by tribunal spokesperson Veronica Spada that all board hearings and decisions are confidential.
Subsequently, Tribunals Ontario clarified that the parole board did not make a decision on Senecal’s release; he was released by the correctional institution after serving two-thirds of his sentence, in compliance with federal regulations, according to a spokesperson.
Law enforcement advises against vigilantism
These incidents have incited widespread anger in the Niagara Region and beyond. Residents and politicians have demanded stricter penalties for sex offenders and reforms in the criminal justice system through rallies, vigils, and online campaigns.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed, “This criminal deserves lifelong imprisonment.”
Despite the public outrage, authorities caution against taking matters into their own hands, emphasizing that vigilante actions jeopardize community safety and undermine the legal process, stated Niagara police spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin. She urged the public
