Attack near Walmart leads to South Coast man being found sexually dangerous

BROCKTON – A Massachusetts man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assaulting a woman has been found to be sexually dangerous, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

Late Thursday, after a three-day trial, a jury deliberated for just under two hours before finding 49-year-old Lance Porter of Wareham a Sexually Dangerous Person.

On September 24, 2010, a female victim was attacked in a parking lot near Walmart at Cranberry Plaza. The woman was attempting to get into her car when a man, later identified as Porter, approached her. Porter grabbed the victim and threw her against a van parked next to her car. When the victim. screamed, Porter covered her mouth with his hand. The victim bit Porter’s hand twice before she was able to break free and run away.

Wareham Police were contacted, and an investigation was launched. The victim was able to retain Porter’s license plate number and police located Porter with two bite marks on his hand, and he was placed under arrest. Porter pled guilty in 2011 to the attack.

In addition to the 2010 attack, Porter was additionally convicted on Rape of a Child by Force, Kidnapping, and Threat to Commit a Crime charges for an incident that occurred in Hanson in 1994. In this incident, Porter approached the 14-year-old female victim walking along the road. Porter was in a yellow pickup truck and offered the victim a ride. The victim refused and Porter drove off before returning and forcing the victim into his pickup truck. Porter drove a short distance before raping the victim.

At the SDP trial to determine whether Porter is currently a sexually dangerous person, jurors heard evidence, including testimony from forensic psychologists.

According to Massachusetts statute, “a person who has been convicted of a sex offense may be confined indefinitely for treatment after the termination of the person’s criminal sentence if the person is found to be a sexually dangerous person.”

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Mullin prosecuted the case.