A Marshfield man accused of raping a teenage girl earlier this month is a “dangerous sexual predator,” according to police, and they are asking anyone who has had an encounter with the 49-year-old to come forward.
“We are concerned that there are other potential victims here,” said Marshfield police Lieutenant Arthur Shaw. “We consider him a very dangerous sexual predator.”
Joseph Regan, of Ferry Street, pleaded not guilty Monday in Plymouth District Court to charges including rape of a child, according to Bridget Norton Middleton, a spokeswoman for the Plymouth district attorney’s office. He was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing on Thursday.
The teenager was walking home along Route 139 in Marshfield either very late on May 5 or very early on May 6 when Regan allegedly stopped his car and offered her a ride, said Shaw. The girl said no, but Regan allegedly opened his door and offered again, and she got in.
He then drove the teen to his home and raped her, said Shaw. Middleton said Regan gave her alcohol first.
There is no indication, said Shaw, that Regan knew the alleged victim.
Police executed a search warrant of Regan’s home and car on May 6, the lieutenant said. Regan, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to police on Sunday.
“He was not cooperative and refused to speak,” said Shaw. The name of Regan’s attorney was not immediately available.
Shaw said police are concerned that Regan had access to children through his employment, though he was not sure where Regan worked. He was not a registered sex offender, according to Shaw.
Regan is charged with reckless endangerment of a child, enticing a child under 16, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, rape of a child, and giving alcohol to a person under 21, Middleton said.
Shaw encouraged anyone with information about Regan to call Detective Greg Davis at 781-834-6655, extension 141.
Evan Allen can be reached at evan.allen@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @evanmallen.