On Thursday, August 21, 2025, at approximately 4:00 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) responded to a location in St. Catharines for a belated child abuse call.
The initial investigation led uniform members to immediately engage detectives with the Child Abuse Unit (CAU). Detectives with the NRPS CAU continued the investigation and determined that a child sexual assault occurred.
As a result of the investigation, Robert CAVERLEY, a 54-year-old resident of St. Catharines, has been arrested and charged with the following criminal code offences:
Sexual Assault on a Person Under 16 Years of Age Sexual Interference with a Person Under 16 Years of Age Invitation to Sexual Touching with a Person Under 16 Years of Age Uttering Threats
CAVERLEY remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Friday, August 22, 2025, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, dial option 3, extension 1009664.
Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.