Registered sex offender charged with 6th count in Welland, Ont., case involving attack on toddler

< warm>WARNING: This story references baby sexual assault.

Registered sexual urge offender book of daniel Senecal faces a new charge to go with the five already laid after a three-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in her Welland, Ont., home. 

In St. Catharines court Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old was charged with breach of probation during a brief appearance via video, wearing green jail garb from the Toronto South Detention Centre. 

Asked whether he understood the new charge, Senecal replied "yes."

The accused also faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and sexual interference on a person under 16, break and enter, choking and assault.

When arrested on Aug. 31, Senecal was serving a year of probation for an unrelated incident, which required him "to keep the peace and be of good behaviour," court heard Wednesday. 

Outrage after Ontario sex offender accused of attacking toddler

Niagara police say Senecal broke into the family home of a young girl overnight on the Labour Day weekend and attacked her. Her injuries weren't discovered until the morning, and she was taken to hospital and treated. 

Last year, Senecal was convicted in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy in 2021 and sentenced to 18 months in jail, but was released six months early, in March, according to the boy's family. He was also added to the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years. 

These cases have set off a wave of anger across the Niagara Region and beyond. At rallies, vigils and online, residents and politicians have called for harsher sentences for sex offenders and criminal justice reforms. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said: "This scumbag deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life." 

As the collective fury persists, police warn against "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."

At a rally last week outside the St. Catharines courthouse, several motorcyclists wore vests bearing the logos of the Red Devils and Branded Souls motorcycle clubs. Another man was seen sporting a black hoodie displaying the symbol for Diagolon, which the RCMP has described as an "extremist militia-like organization."

Primo has posted on social media the name of who he said was the girl's mother and a video showing what appears to be her Facebook page.

Niagara police said it doesn't comment on publication bans. Neither the courthouse nor the ministry provided a response by publication time.

Corrections officials recently denied Senecal's request to be transferred to a woman's jail. A Facebook page believed to be that of the accused uses the name "Dani Senecal" and the pronouns "she/her." 

In the latest court appearance, Senecal gave the name "Daniel Senecal" and court staff used he/him pronouns.

If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database. ​​

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