A Massachusetts man was arrested this week by a team of Groveland police officers and state troopers after he allegedly plotted to have a woman sexually assaulted by posing as her online.
According to The Daily News of Newburyport, state Attorney General Maura Healey said that 45-year-old Thomas Sheehan of Quincy impersonated the woman in an effort to have strangers rape her and kidnap her children.
“We allege that this defendant put this woman and her family in grave danger by impersonating her online, posting photos of her and her children and communicating with strangers who sought to do personal harm,” Healey explained. “Our office is taking a serious look at whether the current laws appropriately address the severity of these alleged crimes.”
The investigation determined that Sheehan had been posing as the woman on an adult website. He allegedly used the profile to contact others who expressed an interest in stalking the woman, sexually assaulting her and kidnapping her children.
Investigators were able to trace the fake profile back to Sheehan.
The Quincy man was charged with "solicitation to commit assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, solicitation to commit rape, solicitation to commit rape of a child and solicitation to commit kidnapping," the paper reported.
Sheehan's arraignment was expected to take place on Wednesday.
