BOSTON (AP/WHDH) — A convicted child rapist released from prison in Massachusetts has been listed as homeless in his sex offender registration.
Wayne Chapman was released last week after being found not guilty of lewdness charges brought while in prison.
The 71-year-old man was convicted in 1977 for sexually assaulting young boys. Chapman said he raped up to 100 children.
Wendy Murphy, an attorney for some of the victims, says registering as homeless creates loopholes for sex offenders and that her clients remain concerned.
“The idea that you can call yourself homeless and stay someplace and not tell the public where you are is just so absurd that I hope and expect the sex offender registry board will challenge this in court,” Murphy said. “It is outrageous but it is also ridiculous.”
She says her clients are upset at not knowing where Chapman is and that he was given a check for nine cents upon his release.
“A lot of people said to me, my clients included, ‘Why did he get anything,” she said. “Why is he entitled to the nine cents? I want the nine cents.”
Chapman’s attorney says he doesn’t have a permanent address yet and that the ailing man is being cared for at an undisclosed location.
“He has complied with his legal obligations,” attorney Eric Tennen said. “He has been in contact with the Boston police.”
The state’s highest court ruled Chapman could no longer remain civilly committed based on the state’s sexually dangerous person law after two mental health professionals ruled he is not sexually dangerous.
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