Orillia man accused of burning cat expected in plea court

The Orillia man accused of setting a cat on fire could soon resolve the charges.

An Orillia man accused of burning a cat in downtown Orillia four months ago appears scheduled for a date in plea court.

Andrew Senechal has been behind bars since his arrest in October. He was charged by provincial police with animal cruelty, mischief and arson.

Investigators said police were called to the downtown core near the intersection of West and Colborne streets for the alleged burning of a cat on Sept. 16, at about 5 p.m.

Days later, police released surveillance video asking for the public’s help identifying a man seen walking in the area around the time investigators believed the cat was set on fire.

It’s unclear whether the cat was a pet or stray.

While a publication ban imposed has prevented any evidence heard in court from being released, Senechal, through his defence lawyer Jeffrey Fisher, has expressed a desire to resolve the case.

According to court documents, Senechal has a handful of criminal charges on his record. Back in 2018 when he was 23, Senechal was the subject of a Toronto Police investigation following what authorities described as a random, unprovoked stabbing of a man at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

Senechal was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and theft under $5000.

CTV News has learned he was handed a conditional sentence under house arrest for the stabbing.

About a month later, while under house arrest conditions, Senechal was charged with mischief for damaging a bus shelter window and stealing clothes.

He was later sentenced to time served, credited with 45 days in custody in early 2019 and placed on probation for 18 months.

The Orillia man remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in plea court next week in Midland.

The allegations against him have not been tested in court.