A man arrested in 2022 in connection with what police said was the attempted abduction of two young girls at a cheerleading competition in Niagara Falls has been granted a discharge.
Rodney Ababio had originally been charged with two counts of abduction of a person under the age of 14 in relation to two alarming incidents at Niagara Falls Convention Centre during the Canadian Cheer All-Star National Championships.
In Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Monday the 21-year-old Niagara Falls man was granted a conditional discharge and placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty on two counts of assault.
Ababio, who had no prior criminal record, was also prohibited from working or volunteering anywhere that involves the care of children under the age of 16.
Court heard the defendant was working at a food station during the cheerleading competition at the convention centre in April 2022.
After his shift, he entered the public area of the building and approached a nine-year-old girl.
“He smiled at her and reached out to grab her around the upper torso, motioning toward the door,” assistant Crown attorney Donna Polgar told the judge.
A coach observed the incident and intervened.
