Barry Austin Morningstar, a 31-year-old man with a history of criminal behavior, is facing multiple charges after a series of disturbing incidents in Welland, Ontario. On August 27, Morningstar was caught scaling between two buildings near West Main Street and Denistoun Street, peering into a woman’s bathroom window. Officers responding to the scene found him 20 feet above ground, using his legs to hold himself up in a narrow gap between the buildings. Shockingly, Morningstar was naked from the waist down.

In an attempt to evade capture, Morningstar climbed to the roof, jumped to the ground, and fled from the officers. After a short chase, he was apprehended but resisted arrest, fighting with the officers before being subdued and handcuffed. Due to the height from which he fell, he was taken to the hospital for a medical assessment. While at the hospital, Morningstar made another escape attempt, breaking free from an officer’s grip and sprinting towards an exit, but was quickly recaptured.

Morningstar is now facing 10 criminal charges, including voyeurism, in connection with the August 27 incident. Police are investigating whether this event is related to another break-and-enter in Welland on August 22, where an unknown man entered a residence, interacted with a child, and fled on foot.

Morningstar is no stranger to the criminal justice system. In a separate case, he was recently sentenced to three years in prison for child pornography-related charges in Saint John, New Brunswick. The investigation began in August 2019, leading to the discovery of child sexual abuse material in Morningstar’s possession. He pleaded guilty to possession and creation of child pornography and was added to the National Sex Offender Registry for life. Upon release, he will face several restrictions, including a prohibition on being near children for ten years.