Niagara Falls man facing 81 charges in historic sexual assaults involving kids

A 53-year-old Niagara Falls man charged in connection with multiple historic sexual assaults is facing more than 80 offences.

Niagara police initially arrested and charged Todd Douglas Williston in November 2024 following an allegation that he sexually assaulted a boy between May and November of that year.

More people came forward with sexual assault allegations to Niagara police this spring.

Investigators say the alleged offences involved 16 victims, including 14 boys and two girls ranging in age from eight to 17 years old between 1991 and 2024.

Williston was then charged with 81 more offences, including four counts of sexual assault under 14 years of age, 11 counts of making child pornography, and 14 counts of unlawfully possessing child pornography.

READ MORE: Niagara Falls man charged for multiple historical sexual assaults

“The scale and nature of the allegations are deeply troubling and highlight the profound impact such offences have on our community—particularly on vulnerable young people,” Niagara Regional Police Chief Bill Fordy wrote in a statement.

“This kind of predatory behaviour will not be tolerated in our community.”

Williston has remained in custody since the initial charges and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Friday in St. Catharines.

Investigators believe that there may be more victims who have not yet come forward because Williston had been previously employed as a school bus driver in Niagara Falls.

He used the aliases “Doug Williston”, “Todd Helmes”, “Uncle Doug”, “Plebber” and “Chubby Todd”. His online account names included variations of “Plebber”, “Chubby Todd” and “Snake Den”.

Detectives are asking for anyone who believes that they may be a victim or for anyone with information related to this investigation to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s sexual assault unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009535.

READ MORE: Hamilton man pleads guilty to sexual assault of woman in her 80s