Man accused of sexually assaulting a child in Welland, Ont., had previous convictions, court docs show

Niagara police say the suspect accused of sexually assault a young child in Welland, Ont. had previous convictions involving a minor.

The 25-year-old man charged with breaking into a home in Welland, Ont., and sexually assaulting a young child was previously charged with a similar offence four years ago, court documents show.

In 2021, Daniel Senecal was charged with sexual assault of a minor, sexual interference of a minor and choking, according to court documents obtained by CTV News. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

The most recent incident, which allegedly took place on Sunday, Aug. 31, has shocked the community near Niagara Falls and sparked debate over whether it could have been prevented given the criminal history of the accused.

Senecal faces several charges, including aggravated sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age, assault, assault by choking, and break and enter.

“This is a tragedy that has deeply impacted our community and our investigators,” Niagara Regional Police Chief Bill Fordy said in a statement. “Detectives are working closely with the child’s family to ensure that this matter is fully investigated and carried through the judicial system.”

The statement goes on to note that “public records show that the suspect was subject to a probation order at the time of the offence.” Court documents show part of Senecal’s probation barred him from being with children under the age of 18 unless his surety was present.

According to the Niagara Regional Police Service, emergency responders were called to a home in Welland around 8:59 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Upon entering the home, officers noted the front door showed signs of being forced open. The victim, who was under the age of five, had serious injuries. They were taken to a hospital outside the region for “advanced medical care.” Friends of the child say they remain in hospital.

While police initially reported this as an attack by a stranger, friends of the family said the accused was known to the family. Police say the break-in happened sometime after 10 p.m. Saturday night, and that the parents were unaware of both the break-in and assault until the following morning.

“While inside the residence, unbeknownst to the parents, their child was sexually assaulted,” police said in the news release.

Police say a neighbour shared video from their surveillance camera and Senecal was identified and arrested a short time later.

“The recent sexual assault of a toddler during a break-in in our community is a horrific act that is impossible to fathom,” Welland’s mayor, Frank Campion, said in a statement released Thursday.

The mayor vowed to “continue to work with police and seek action from provincial and federal levels of government to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes are dealt with severely by the courts and kept off our streets.”

In a statement, a spokesman for Justice Minister Sean Fraser said legislation will be introduced this fall aimed at cracking down on violent and organized crime.

“We are working closely with the provinces and territories to reform bail and sentencing, so police and prosecutors have stronger tools to keep violent offenders off the streets,” said Jeremy Bellefeuille, director of communications with the ministry.

Senecal remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court via video on Sept. 10.

Witnesses, or anyone else with information that could help with the investigation, can contact Niagara police at 905-688-4111, option #3, ext. 1009898. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.