Welland Man Arrested for Several Sexual Related Offences Against Children
On August 21, 2026, uniformed officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 3 District (Welland/Pelham) were called to a Welland address for a report of a Sexual Assault. Officers learned that three children under the age of 10 were assaulted by a non-familial male known to the family.
The investigation was taken over by the Child Abuse Unit (CAU). On August 26, 2026, as a result of their investigation, 56-year-old Anthony Stephen MICHAEL of Welland, was arrested and charged with the following offences.
- Make Child Sexual Abuse Exploitation Material (three counts)
- Make Available Sexually Explicit Material to a Person
- Voyeurism
- Bestiality in Presence of Person
- Sexual Assault (two counts)
- Sexual Interference with a Person Under the Age of 16 (two counts)
- Expose Genitals to a Person Under the Age of 16
- Assault with a Weapon
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
MICHAEL remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing August 27, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
Detectives are asking for anyone with information related to this incident, or for anyone who believes that may be a victim/survivor of this accused to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Child Abuse Unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009898.
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.