Orillia man to spend year in custody after lighting kitten on fire

An Orillia man caught on camera burning a kitten alive in a parking lot will spend the next year in custody.

Warning: Content in this article may be upsetting to readers.

Andrew Senechal will spend the next year in custody for burning his kitten alive five months ago in downtown Orillia.

The court heard Senechal, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, experiences auditory hallucinations.

He pleaded guilty to killing his animal and arson charges in a Midland courtroom.

On Sept. 16, 2024, the 30-year-old man was captured on surveillance cameras walking behind a gas station along Colborne Street moments before a kitten was found burned and dead on the ground.

Crown Attorney Katherine Cinerari called the killing of the defenceless animal “an abhorrent act of violence in the most extreme form.”

Cinerari sought a two-year jail term less credit for time served in pre-sentence custody, while the defence sought 18 months, and requested Senechal spend the remainder of his time in custody at a treatment centre in Brockville to focus on his mental health challenges.

His lawyer Will Caven told the court his client is “suffering from a very deep-seated mental health issue,” adding that “because of just how aggravating this offence is, I struggle to believe that anyone without these mental health issues, would’ve committed the same offence.”

Caven called Senechal’s actions “truly deplorable” and “so obviously terrible” He noted Senechal was living in a tent on his parents’ property at the time of his arrest in October, and told the court Senechal’s mental health condition was “spiralling out of control” when he set his kitten on fire.

The Crown said weeks prior to the animal’s death, Senechal’s landlord in Orillia found a neglected dog in his apartment and rescued it.

As part of his sentence Senechal was placed on probation for three years and has been ordered to take counselling and assessment to treat his psychiatric issues. While on probation, Senechal is not to have a lighter on him unless smoking a cigarette. Senechal is also banned from having weapons on him for 10 years, and is not to own, care for or live with a pet for five years.

Related

• Orillia man accused of burning cat expected in plea court
• Police arrest suspect accused of setting cat on fire in parking lot
• Video released of person of interest after cat is allegedly set on fire in Orillia, Ont.