January 31, 2008 Convicted sex offender arrested in New Bedford, Mass. Play video

(NECN) - A high-level sex offender who recently moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts has been arrested and charged with raping a six-year-old boy in the public library -- according to police.

26-year-old Corey Saunders was arrested Wednesday afternoon after allegedly assaulting the boy.

The suspect lured the boy away from the children's section of the library to a secluded area of the building.

Police say the boy's mother was in another part of the library using a computer.

Officials have surveillance video taken from inside the building.

Saunders is charged with rape of a child by force, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and enticing a child. He is being held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Feb. 7.

Saunders, who was convicted in 2001 of child rape and assault and battery on a child, is classified by the state as a Level 3 sex offender, considered the most likely to re-offend.

NECN reporter John Moroney has the latest details available.