A registered level three sex offender, who was convicted in 2002 of raping a child and disseminating matter harmful to minors, was arrested on Jan. 30 on another dissemination charge.

Ronald Franklin, 59, of 3026 Cranberry Highway, was taken into custody by Wareham Police at about 6 a.m. after a thorough investigation by detectives, according to reports. Franklin was arrested at the Silver Lake Motel.

Level three is the most dangerous classification for sex offenders and is defined by the state as “having a high risk of re-offending and pose a high degree of danger to the public.” Franklin was ordered held on $25,000 bail after a hearing in Wareham District Court Thursday afternoon.

Wareham Police Chief John Walcek praised detectives. He also thanked the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office for arguing for a high bail.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of our department protecting vulnerable populations, especially children,” said Walcek. “If we receive information that there are potentially harmful crimes involving minors the case will be aggressively investigated to ensure their safety.”

Franklin was previously convicted of two counts of rape of child with force, and one count each of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age and dissemination of matter harmful to minors in Sept. 2002. 

This October, Wareham Police arrested Franklin and charged him with failing to notify authorities after changing his address. Under state law, registered sex offenders have two days to notify police about an address change. Franklin had moved a few rooms over from where he was living in the Silver Lake Motel, police said.