St. Catharines Man Charged in Child Sexual Assault Incidents

In March 2026 detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Child Abuse Unit (CAU) became involved in two investigations into historical child sexual assaults.  The two teenage female victims reported assaults between May 2025 and January 2026.  The suspect male was an acquaintance of the victims’ families, and the offences are alleged to have taken place at a home in St. David’s.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, CAU detectives arrested 55-year-old Shawn HOLLINGWORTH of St. Catharines.

HOLLINGWORTH is charged with the following offences.

• Sexual Assault (two counts)
• Sexual Interference (two counts)

HOLLINGWORTH remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.

Detectives believe that there may be more victims and that the years of the offences could date back as far as the early 2000’s.  They are asking for anyone who believes they may be a victim or for anyone with information to contact them at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009783.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

NRPS Incidents 26-29002, 26-44712