BOSTON -- Team 5 Investigates has discovered level 3 sex offenders – the ones deemed by the state to be the most dangerous and likely to reoffend – living and working inside Massachusetts nursing homes.

William Houle, long ago convicted of multiple indecent assaults and an attempted rape, is a level 3 sex offender registered as living at the Corey Hill nursing home in Brighton, home to dozens of other residents.

The Old Soldiers Home in Chelsea is the address listed on the state’s Web site for two level 3 offenders, Albert Lush, convicted in 1973 of assault with intent to rape, and William Tripp, convicted in 1991 on a charge of rape of a child with force.

Until Feb. 13, Joel Robbins, 44, was registered as a level 3 sex offender living at the Cedar Hill Health Care Center in Randolph.

“They're all living under the same roof,” said Wes Bledsoe, president and co-founder of A Perfect Cause, a national organization dedicated to protecting nursing home patients. “Typically there’s not enough staff or security to protect those residents.”

The danger, he says, is real.

“When you put predators in with the prey, someone is going to get bit,” said Bledsoe.

There is no record that the men reported on here have reoffended while in a nursing home, but that is not always the case.

“We have documented over 60 cases where child molesters have, in fact, sexually, physically assaulted, even raped other long-term care residents,” said Bledsoe.

Experts point to a particularly vicious 2005 case in Norwood, Mass. John Enos, 69, a level 3 sex offender confined to a wheelchair allegedly raped his 90-year-old nursing home roommate.

Enos had previously served 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting his own 9-year-old daughter.

The district attorney’s office confirms that Enos was indicted on the new rape charge, but died before he could be tried.

That case helped prompt a change in Massachusetts law. With few exceptions, it is now illegal for level 3 sex offenders to live in nursing homes. But in what some call a loophole, the statute says level 3 offenders cannot live in nursing homes “knowingly or willingly.”

“It's outrageous that there should be any loophole in any law that allows sex offenders anywhere near nursing homes,” said attorney Wendy Murphy.

There is also no law on the books requiring that nursing homes notify anyone – not residents, staff or visitors -- when level 3 sex offenders are living and working in their facilities.

“In terms of notification itself, it's discretionary,” said Chelsea police chief Brian Kyes. “That would be up to the individual in charge of the facility.”

No one from Cedar Hill wanted to comment for this story.

Corey Hill told Team 5 Investigates they “comply with all laws and regulations,” adding, “we don’t share all information…we do inform people we need to inform.”

Due to state disclosure laws, only the names and addresses of level 3 offenders are listed online. Only law enforcement has access to information about level 1 offenders, and residents can find out about level 2 sex offenders living in their city or town only by going in person to the police station.

As for who may be monitoring these offenders? The answer is no one, unless they are on parole or probation.

Check where Level 3 Sex Offenders live.