Area communities on high alert for sex offender
Published on December 5th, 2007
WINCHESTER, MA - Police Chief Kenneth Albertelli advised town and area residents to be vigilant in the wake of a suspicious encounter late last month between a 15-year-old adolescent and a Maine man with a history of arrests for sex offenses.
According to a recent warning issued from Albertelli's office, the teenager was crossing Bacon Street last Tuesday when a man in a bluish-green station wagon passed by and snapped a photograph of her.
"Upon further investigation, [it was learned that] this individual...has also been involved in similar incidents in surrounding communities," Albertelli disclosed. "Even though the activity is not illegal, we believe it is cause for concern."
Local authorities identified the man in question as Joseph G. DiYorio, 33, of Mount Chase, ME.
A little over two years ago, the Maine man was arrested twice over a two month period in surrounding communities for allegedly videotaping young girls and then performing sexual acts nearby.
According to Stoneham Police officials, on Sept. 3, 2005, DiYorio was spotted videotaping people from his parked white van along Main and Elm Streets.
Responding officers reportedly caught the then 30-year-old in the middle of performing a sex act upon investigating the complaints. He was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior and illegal possession of a Class D substance.
According to Stoneham police, the van and the suspect closely resembled descriptions of similar suspicious incidents that occurred that weekend in Arlington, Belmont, and Lexington.
Two months later, on Oct. 12, 2005, DiYorio turned himself into Belmont Police after authorities charged him with two counts of accosting a person, two counts of disorderly conduct, and lewd and lavicious behavior.
According to a press release issued at the time by then Belmont Chief of Police Andrew O'Malley, DiYorio followed two 11-year-old girls in a white van while videotaping them on Aug. 25, 2005. As was the case in Stoneham, the Maine man was accused of performing a sexual act while passing by the two pre-teens.
In the most recent incident, which occurred last Tuesday, the 15-year-old complainant did not allege that DiYorio was performing any sex acts while taking her photograph. However, she was concerned enough to report the incident to Winchester Police.
Investigating Officer Peter Hersee, patrolling the area, later spotted a stopped vehicle matching the adolescent's description on Bacon Street near Church Street.
"The driver matched the description given and when questioned about why he took a photo of a young female earlier, he had no good explanation and did not deny taking the photo," Albertelli explained.
Any resident who observes any suspicious behavior is being advised to contact their respective police departments. Winchester Police can be reached at 781-729-1214.
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