Norwell man arrested on charge of rape of Wareham child
Wareham Police arrested a Norwell man at his home on Tuesday after Wareham parents reported that their teenage daughter had been sexually assaulted by the man after meeting him online.
Ryan Palmer, 27, of 89 Stetson Street in Norwell was charged with aggravated statutory rape of a child after Wareham Police detectives searched the home he shares with his parents, according to police.
The parents of the victim reported the incident. Wareham Police detectives learned that the teen met Palmer on a dating website, mylol.com, told the victim that he was 21 years old, and used a false name, police said.
After a conversation on the dating website, the victim spoke with Palmer via the Skype video chat service. They arranged to meet at the victim’s home in Wareham, where a sexual encounter took place, police said.
Wareham and Duxbury detectives examined computer usage and website addresses to determine Palmer's true identity, police said. Police recovered computer equipment and devices at Palmer's home during the search.
Palmer's record has no other incidents of sexual abuse, police said. He currently has an open case involving the use of a firearm in Norwell in June, 2012.
Wareham Police were assisted by the Massachusetts State Police and the Norwell Police Department during the arrest.