Dangerous offender process continues in Canadian Tire sex assault

A dangerous offender application continues to make its way through the courts for a Niagara man convicted of sexually assaulting a teenaged Canadian Tire employee in the washroom of the store while armed with a syringe.

Kevin Kohl pleaded guilty in April 2016 to four charges including sexual assault with a weapon, choking and uttering threats. The Crown’s office is seeking to have the 42-year-old declared a dangerous offender.

Kohl appeared in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Thursday at which time defence lawyer Norm Williams said he’s in process of having an independent assessment done on his client.

“I have to go back to the doctor and get his availability dates and then I can talk to the courts about getting a date,” he said.

A Hamilton psychiatrist has already submitted an 80-plus-page assessment report on behalf of the Crown.

That report is the first step in the process of declaring a defendant a dangerous offender. Such a declaration would mean Kohl could be jailed indefinitely.

Kohl is expected to return to court May 10.

On Sept. 15, 2015, Kohl approached an employee at the Canadian Tire on Welland Avenue in St. Catharines and asked the 19-year-old for directions to the washroom.

He lured the teen inside the washroom and repeatedly sexually assaulted the young woman.

The teen’s cellphone recorded a brief video of her struggling with Kohl.