Ont. man convicted of trying to abduct girls in Angus park awaits dangerous long-term offender hearing

A Clearview Township man convicted of criminal harassment and the attempted abduction of 12-year-old girls was in court Thursday.

Warning: Readers may find the content in this article disturbing and triggering.

Convicted of trying to abduct 12-year-old girls at a park in Angus six years ago, Anthony Holtorf appeared in a Barrie courtroom Thursday as he awaits a hearing following an application last year by the Crown to have him deemed a dangerous long-term offender.

Holtorf, 37, who was convicted in November 2023 of criminal harassment and trying to abduct the young girls in March 2019, has been out on bail, with his parents serving as his sureties.

During the trial, the court heard Holtorf tried to lure the underage girls into his car to play what he called “the taste test game” with him. He was arrested when the girls told their parents what had happened.

The girls, whose identities remain protected under a publication ban, testified in court Holtorf offered one of them money and sweets, repeatedly trying to get the girl to leave her friends and join him in his car. He told one girl he had a child around her age, and that they would get along.

Related | Convicted child predator’s disturbing actions unveiled in court after abduction attempt at Angus park

When police arrived, they discovered Holtorf had a backpack in his car containing a neck collar attached to a metal chain, a metal whip, pre-knotted ropes, four sets of Velcro restraints and condoms. Police testified Holtorf had been using a vibrator still attached to his genitals and he was controlling the device with a remote.

Holtorf’s lawyer, Mary Cremer, tried to have the evidence deemed inadmissible. She argued the search was unreasonable and violated her client’s rights under the Charter. Justice Casullo disagreed.

The Crown told the court it has received a report following an assessment by a forensic psychologist and is requesting Holtorf be deemed a dangerous long-term offender, pending approval by the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Holtorf was acquitted of similar charges in 2022 after the judge found there was not enough evidence to prove Holtorf was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

He is scheduled to return to a virtual courtroom in June to set hearing dates.