WAREHAM, Mass. -- Police say a convicted sex offender who got out of prison 18 months ago after serving a 12-year sentence for child rape has been charged with trying to abduct a woman.

Lance Porter waived his appearance at an arraignment on Monday on charges including kidnapping, assault and battery and attempted rape. He will return to court for a dangerousness hearing on Oct. 4.

Police said Porter approached a 36-year-old woman at about 10:15 p.m. Friday after she left a Wareham store, grabbed her, covered her mouth and tried to drag her to his truck.

"I have never even gotten into a fight before. It was awful. The worst thing that ever happened," the victim, who asked not to be identified, said.

"The woman was up against the van. He was choking her. She was trying to let people know, like, screaming," witness Steve Mathews said.

The woman screamed and bit her attacker, then broke away.

"Then she breaks away, and he starts chasing her. Then he seems to realize there are witnesses and cameras," Matthews said.

Porter was arrested at his home later.

"It could have gone differently, but it didn't because of the police and those people. I have their numbers, and when this settles down, I will call them and tell them, 'When you put your head down at night, know that you did a good, good thing,'" the victim said.

Police said Porter is a level 3 sex offender, considered the most likely to re-offend.