SEBAGO, Maine — A Massachusetts man was arrested Saturday on charges including gross sexual assault after allegedly attacking a woman he met on a chat website for abused women.
William Francis Duffy, 58, of Attleboro, Massachusetts, allegedly engaged in a three-week chat with a 31-year-old woman through a website for abused women, and then arranged to assist the woman with escaping from a group home in Carver, Massachusetts, according to a release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Duffy allegedly drove the woman, who the sheriff’s office said “has some mental health issues,” to his summer camp in Sebago and had sex with her against her will. During the assault, the victim dialed 911 and hid the cellphone under her pillow, the release said.
Duffy allegedly threatened her that if she did not comply, he would tie her up and assault her anyway.
Deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the camp at about 3 p.m. Saturday. After interviewing Duffy and the woman, deputies arrested Duffy. He faces four counts of gross sexual assault and two counts of unlawful sexual contact.
The case remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office. Duffy was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Portland Superior Court.
To reach a sexual assault advocate, call the Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line at 800-871-7741, TTY 888-458-5599. This free and confidential 24-hour service is accessible from anywhere in Maine. Calls are automatically routed to the closest sexual violence service provider.