New evidence has been presented against a Massachusetts police officer accused of child rape.
In Lawrence District Court Wednesday, prosecutors said Carlos Vieira, 49, owns several unregistered guns and suggested he's a threat to the community.
Vieira's attorney, Gil Nason, said his client should be granted bail and said Vieira owning weapons has nothing to do with the case.
"They want to make it sound like more than it was," said Nason. "We initially came here on a rape of a child. And now we’re here questioning guns that a police officer has. I think it’s just another reason to keep him in custody."
The 19-year veteran of the Lawrence Police Department was arraigned Tuesday on two counts each of aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
He was arrested without incident Monday in Haverhill following a month-long investigation, according to the Essex District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said Vieira met a 13-year-old boy in the summer of 2018 through a gay social media app called GRINDR. He agreed to meet the boy at Mount Vernon Park in Lawrence where a sex act is alleged to have taken place in a dark SUV.
When the boy's mother found out, she contacted authorities and an investigation began which ultimately led to Vieira's arrest.
The judge in the case said Wednesday Vieira must remain behind bars until at least March 6 when a dangerousness hearing is scheduled. The district attorney's office has until then to gather more evidence and the judge can then decide whether or not to grant Vieira bail.
