Daniel Senecal, a registered sex offender, faces a sixth charge related to the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in Welland, Ontario. The 25-year-old appeared via video in St. Catharines court on Wednesday morning, where he was charged with breach of probation. He was dressed in green jail attire from the Toronto South Detention Centre. When asked if he understood the new charge, Senecal responded, "yes."

Senecal is already facing five other charges, including aggravated sexual assault, sexual interference with a person under 16, break and enter, choking, and assault. He was arrested on August 31 while serving a year of probation for a previous incident that required him to maintain peace and good behavior.

According to Niagara police, Senecal allegedly broke into the girl's home during the Labour Day weekend and assaulted her. The child's injuries were discovered the following morning, prompting her to be taken to the hospital for treatment.

In 2021, Senecal was convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was released six months early in March, which has raised concerns among the community. He was also placed on the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years.

The Ontario Parole Board's decision regarding Senecal's early release remains confidential, as stated by a tribunal spokesperson. The recent allegations have sparked outrage in the Niagara Region, with residents and politicians calling for stricter penalties for sex offenders and reforms in the criminal justice system. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his disapproval, stating, "This scumbag deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life."

As public anger grows, police have issued warnings against vigilante justice. Niagara police spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin emphasized the risks of taking justice into one's own hands, stating, "It places community safety at risk and undermines the judicial process. We strongly encourage the public to allow the courts to do their work."

Demonstrations have taken place outside the St. Catharines courthouse, where some attendees displayed affiliations with motorcycle clubs and extremist groups. Concerns have also been raised about social media posts that may violate court-ordered publication bans protecting the identities of the victims.

In a recent court appearance, Senecal's request to be transferred to a women's jail was denied. While a Facebook account believed to belong to Senecal uses the name "Dani Senecal" and female pronouns, court staff referred to him as "Daniel Senecal" and used male pronouns during the proceedings.