A convicted child rapist who served nearly 40 years for the rapes of two boys in 1977 pleaded not guilty to new charges of lewd behavior.
Wayne W. Chapman, 70, was arraigned Monday at Middlesex Superior Court. He pleaded not guilty in June to charges of open and gross lewdness, wanton and lascivious acts for his alleged actions at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Shirley.
He was on the road to being released from prison after serving for several decades but is now facing an additional three years behind bars.
Chapman is accused of exposing himself to prison nurses and allegedly "had to be told several times to cover up and stop" after openly masturbating in his cell. He is being charged as a habitual criminal, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said.
On Monday, prosecutors said they wanted to hold a dangerousness hearing, saying because he's accused of committing a felony, he puts others in danger.
Melissa Devore, Chapman's attorney on this matter, said it wasn't necessary.
"The two offenses which are charged, neither of them involved the substantial risk of force against another person," she said.
Officials said Chapman is suspected of sexually assaulting as many as 50 children. He is also a suspect in the 1976 disappearance of Andy Puglisi, a 10-year-old boy from Lawrence who was never seen again after heading to a pool.
His attorneys argued he is "medically compromised" and can't live without around-the-clock care, but Chapman's victims have been fighting to keep him in prison.
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Chapman is due back in court on Wednesday to continue to the arraignment.
