Niagara Falls, ON – In the spring of 2025, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) investigated new allegations of an array of historic sexual assaults.
The investigation spanned eight months with assistance from the Child Abuse Unit (CAU), Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit, Homicide Unit, Centralized Fraud Unit and Uniform Patrol. This investigation has now culminated in laying 81 criminal charges, related to offences committed between 1991 and 2024.
The alleged offences were committed against 16 victims – 14 male and 2 female – ranging in age from 8 to 17 years old at the time of the offences.
As a result of this extensive investigation, on August 7, 2025, SAU Detectives arrested Todd Douglas Williston (53 years) of Niagara Falls. Williston has been charged with the following offences.
4 counts of Sexual Assault under 14 years of age 7 counts of Sexual Interference 3 counts of Sexual Assault under 16 years of age 2 counts of Sexual Assault 2 counts of Expose Genitals to Person under 14 years of age 1 count of Expose Genitals to Person under 16 years of age 2 counts of Assault 8 counts of Invitation to Sexual Touching 4 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person 3 counts of Make Written Child Pornography 11counts of Make Child Pornography 14 counts of Unlawfully Possess Child Pornography 6 counts of Distribute Child Pornography 10 counts of Voyeurism 3 counts of Make Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Person under 16 years of age 1 count of Distribute Intimate Image
Williston has remained in custody since the initial charges and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Friday, August 8, 2025, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
Investigators believe that there may be more victims who have not yet come forward, as 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 that anyone who believes that they may be a victim, or for anyone with information related to this incident to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Sexual Assault Unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009535.
“These charges are the result of an extensive, months-long investigation led by dedicated teams of investigators from multiple specialized units.
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.
The Niagara Regional Police Service remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting those most at risk and holding individuals accountable through thorough, victim-focused investigations.
This kind of predatory behaviour will not be tolerated in our community.” said Chief of Police Bill Fordy.
The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet, and conducts investigations in partnership with Ontario police services and international agencies. This initiative is made possible through funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.