WARNING: This story references child sexual assault.
A registered sex offender, Daniel Senecal, has been hit with another charge, adding to the five he already faces after a three-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in her home in Welland, Ont.
In a brief video appearance at St. Catharines court on Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old was charged with breach of probation while wearing green jail attire from the Toronto South Detention Centre.
When asked if he understood the new charge, Senecal responded “yes.”
He also faces serious charges including aggravated sexual assault and sexual interference involving someone under 16, along with break and enter, choking, and assault.
Senecal was arrested on August 31 while serving a year of probation for an unrelated case that required him “to keep the peace and be of good behaviour,” as stated in court on Wednesday.
WATCH | Outrage after Ontario sex offender accused of attacking toddler:
Outrage after Ontario sex offender accused of attacking toddler
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.
According to Niagara police, Senecal broke into the young girl’s family home over Labour Day weekend and assaulted her. Her injuries were discovered only in the morning when she was taken to hospital for treatment.
Last year, he was convicted for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy back in 2021 and sentenced to 18 months behind bars but got out six months early in March, according to the boy’s family. He was also added to the National Sex Offender Registry for two decades.
CBC Hamilton sought information from the Ontario Parole Board regarding Senecal’s early release but learned from tribunal spokesperson Veronica Spada that all hearings and decisions by the board “are strictly confidential.”
Tribunals Ontario later clarified that no decision about Senecal’s release came from them; instead, he was released by correctional officials after serving two-thirds of his sentence as permitted under federal rules.
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Senecal, 25, was arrested on Aug. 31 during Labour Day weekend. (Submitted by Koreen Perry)
During a rally last week outside St. Catharines courthouse, several motorcyclists wore vests featuring logos from Red Devils and Branded Souls motorcycle clubs. Another individual displayed a black hoodie marked with Diagolon’s symbol-an organization described by RCMP as resembling an extremist militia.
Afterward, some bikers protested outside Thorold jail led by an individual known online as Rob Primo who CBC’s visual investigations unit identified as being part of Diagolon’s offshoot group called Second Sons.
Primo has shared on social media what he claims is information about who is believed to be the girl’s mother along with a video that appears showing her Facebook page.
CBC Hamilton reached out seeking comments regarding whether this post breaches any court-ordered publication ban aimed at protecting both mother’s identity and that of her child; there exists such bans protecting identities involved here.
Niagara police mentioned they don’t discuss publication bans while neither courthouse nor ministry provided responses prior publishing time.
Recently corrections officials turned down Senecal’s request transferring him into a women’s prison facility instead while social media profiles purportedly belonging towards him utilize name “Dani Senecal” alongside pronouns “she/her.”
In latest court session held recently again confirmed using formal name “Daniel Senecal” where staff referred using masculine pronouns consistently throughout proceedings.
If you’re facing immediate danger or feel unsafe concerning yourself or others around you please call emergency services at number ‘911.’ To find support locally look through crisis hotlines available via Ending Sexual Violence Association Canada database resources listed therein too!
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Outrage after Ontario sex offender accused of attacking toddler
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.
According to Niagara police, Senecal broke into the young girl’s family home over Labour Day weekend and assaulted her. Her injuries were discovered only in the morning when she was taken to hospital for treatment.
Last year, he was convicted for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy back in 2021 and sentenced to 18 months behind bars but got out six months early in March, according to the boy’s family. He was also added to the National Sex Offender Registry for two decades.
CBC Hamilton sought information from the Ontario Parole Board regarding Senecal’s early release but learned from tribunal spokesperson Veronica Spada that all hearings and decisions by the board “are strictly confidential.”
Tribunals Ontario later clarified that no decision about Senecal’s release came from them; instead, he was released by correctional officials after serving two-thirds of his sentence as permitted under federal rules.
Police Caution Against Vigilantism
This situation has sparked significant anger throughout Niagara Region and beyond. At rallies and online discussions, residents along with politicians have called for tougher penalties against sex offenders as well as reforms within criminal justice systems. Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated: “This scumbag deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life.” With ongoing outrage growing stronger every day, police are cautioning against any form of “vigilante actions.” “Taking justice into one’s own hands places community safety at risk and undermines the judicial process,” said Niagara police spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin. “We strongly encourage the public to allow the courts to do their work.”Source link
