7 Charges Laid in Child Abuse Investigation - Welland

In August 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 3 District (Welland/Pelham) uniform officers began an investigation into allegations of sexual assault at a former daycare on Heron Street in the City of Welland.

Detectives with the Child Abuse Unit (CAU) subsequently took carriage of the investigation. On April 28, 2026, results of a DNA warrant identified a suspect in the matter.

On Thursday, April 30, 2026, 61-year-old Juan Carlos CASTILLO-FUENMAYOR of Mississauga was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:

• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Interference
• Expose Genitals to a Person Under 16 Years x 2
• Invitation to Sexual Touching x 2
• Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child

CASTILLO-FUENMAYOR remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, St Catharines.

Detectives believe there could be further victims and are requesting anyone with information related to this incident to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at (905) 688-4111, option 3, extension 1009519.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

2024-90376