Faced with reports that the recipient of her charity is a Level 2 sex offender, Wareham resident Sofia Andrade said she couldn’t believe people could be “so ugly.”

“People are now like, ‘This is what you get for trying to help somebody. You should have known better.’ I just wanted to help somebody, because it was cold,” Andrade said, through tears.

Andrade helped Williams out of the bitter cold on Feb. 13, and created a GoFundMe page for him – a charitable act that went viral. However, on Wednesday, she found out Williams is a Level 2 sex offender.

Officer Charles Perry of the New Bedford Police Department confirmed Williams is a Level 2 sex offender, and that he has not checked in with New Bedford police as required in more than a year.

Perry said Williams has been arrested, and, at the time, was "on his way right now to the third district court."

"We have a lot of questions about him," Perry said.

Andrade said she had seen Williams in the cold at a stop sign in New Bedford on the evening of Feb. 13. The mother of three had just won $200, and said she wanted to use it to help Williams, when she saw him. She decided to put him up in the Rosewood Motel for a few days, and made a Facebook post about it that ended up going viral. Since the post, hundreds of people have given to Williams’ cause, donating everything from clothing and food to money through a GoFundMe page Andrade set up for Williams’ future.

The GoFundMe page for Williams had raised more than $16,000 by Wednesday evening. In light of the reports, Andrade said a majority of the money will go to organizations and groups that help the homeless, but that “it is still his money,” and she would like to give him some of it.

“I honestly believe he deserves a second chance at life, but he is like, ‘I don’t want it, Sofie,’” Andrade said. “He has told me to take some of the money to reimburse some of the money I spent … Although, I don’t want the money. I didn’t set this up to be repaid.”

Since Feb. 13, Andrade has also taken Williams to get health insurance and a cell phone, all on her own dime. Despite Williams' status, said she will still give him some of the money to go to SSTAR, a detox and addiction recovery center in Fall River.

“I just really want people to know this money will not go to me,” Andrade said. “I will pay it forward. There is nothing I can do about it now. I can just go forward.”

Andrade said Williams has since left Wareham.