Norwell Man Charged in Rape of Wareham Teen

A cyber-predator hits home in Wareham.

Police say 27-year-old Ryan Palmer of Norwell engaged in sexual activities with a Wareham teen after meeting her through a dating website for teens. Palmer apparently posed online as a 21-year-old male, and drove to the teen's home in Wareham where the sexual encounter took place last week.

After some investigation using computers and web addresses, Wareham Police, aided by Norwell and State Police, arrested Palmer at his parents' home in Norwell early this morning.

Palmer has been arraigned in Wareham District Court on a single charge of Aggravated Statutory Rape of a Child. Palmer's record shows no prior incidents of sexual abuse, but he faces an open case involving use of a firearm in Norwell this past June.